BMS gets desired result before Food City 500

Bristol Motor Speedway received the perfect lead-in to the Food City. Chase Elliott, NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, held off Denny Hamlin for his second win at Martinsville and his 22nd Cup Series victory overall. With Easter weekend coming up, it gives BMS and NASCAR two weeks to promote Elliott as the series' most recent race winner. The driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is looking for his first official win at Bristol. He won the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race when it was moved to the high-banked short track during the COVID year. Elliott also won the NASCAR Cup Series championship that season. He has been solid throughout the first seven races, currently fourth in the point standings. He declined a question about Bristol following his Martinsville win, saying that he was savoring the win at the flat short track. When it comes to the "Last Great Colosseum," Elliott has nine top-10 finishes in 17 races on the high-banked concrete oval. His best finish was second behind his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson at the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Larson is another fan favorite, and he's the defending Food City 500 and Cup Series champion. The driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet comes into Bristol with four top-10 finishes in his last five races. The Toyotas have shown the most speed this season with five wins for Tyler Reddick and one for Hamlin. Ryan Blaney has been the best of the Ford contingent, matching Reddick with five top-10 finishes along with his win at Phoenix. LOCAL RACING EVENTS Lonesome Pine Raceway has its season opener Saturday. There has been a massive amount of work done at the 3/8-mile asphalt oval under new track owner Joey Owens. The Coeburn, Va., facility includes a brand new track surface. The schedule includes races for the Late Model Stock, Super Street, Street Stock, Mod 4, Pure 4, Stock FWD and Crown Vic classes. Grandstands open at noon with the green flag to drop at 2 p.m. Cherokee Race Park has its season opening IHRA bracket races scheduled for Saturday. There is a test-and-tune Friday evening at the 1/8-mile Rogersville drag strip before racing the next day. HOT SUMMER NIGHTS Tianna Holsclaw from Johnson City continued her strong performances last Saturday in the Hot Summer Nights Supercross Series at 221 MX in Forest City, N.C. Holsclaw rode her KTM to a win in the Girls 11-16 race with Faera Remington from Bluff City second in both motos. Holsclaw then won the first moto in the Women's race, and ultimately finished second to North Carolina rider Aubrie Blackwelder. Chris Furches from Jonesborough continues to be the fastest on four wheels. Furches won the ATV Open class with Chris Silvers runner-up. The Hot Summer Nights Series returns April 11-12 at Cathey's Creek MX.