NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Robby Gordon is one of the tense seven. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Trivia time
Which driver holds the all-time record for laps led in Cup races at Bristol?
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The tense seven
Today’s race is the fifth on the 2010 schedule. As such, it is the final race in which owner points from the 2009 season apply toward automatic entry into races. Beginning next week at Martinsville, drivers whose cars are not 35th or better in owner points will have to qualify for races on time.

Here are the seven drivers on either side of 35th in points entering today’s Food City 500:

32nd – David Gilliland (318 points); 33rd – Brad Keselowski (295); 34th – Travis Kvapil 286); 35th – Mike Bliss (276); 36th – Kevin Conway (276); 37th – David Stremme (252); 38th – Robby Gordon (249).

Bliss failed to qualify for today’s race so he will fall out of the top 35.
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Family friendly
There is no denying that Bristol is a family friendly facility. For drivers, that is.

The Busch family has won eight races there (five by Kurt, three by Kyle). The Allison family has won six (one each by Donnie and Davey and four by Bobby). The Jarretts have won twice (one each by Ned and Dale).
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Milestones
Jimmie Johnson will be going for his 50th career victory today.

Bobby Labonte will be going for his 200th top-10 finish.

Clint Bowyer will be starting his 150th Cup race.
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Trivia answer
Cale Yarborough led 4,305 laps at Bristol. Those came in 29 starts.
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Up next
Next week the Cup teams will race on a second-straight short track as the series moves to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500.

It would seem to be a place which Hendrick drivers are anxious to get as Jeff Gordon has seven victories at Martinsville and Jimmie Johnson six. Rick Hendrick has 18 victories at Martinsville as an owner and Johnson won last year’s race.

Jim Pedleyis a veteran, award-winning sports journalist who has worked at, among other places, the Boston Globe, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Kansas City Star. Pedley spent more than 10 years covering auto racing for the Kansas City Star. Pedley can be reached at jpedley@racintoday.com

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