# 2013 Food City 500

The 2013 Food City 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on March 17, 2013, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 500 laps on the 0.533 mile (0.858 km) concrete oval, it was the fourth race of the 2013 Sprint Cup Series championship. Kasey Kahne of Hendrick Motorsports won the race, while Kyle Busch finished second. Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five.

## Report
### Background

Bristol Motor Speedway, is a four-turn short track oval that is 0.533 miles (0.858 km) long. The track's turns are banked from twenty-four to thirty degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked from six to ten degrees. The back stretch also has banking from six to ten degrees. The track has a seating capacity of 160,000 people. The race consists of 500 laps, which is equivalent to a race distance of 266.5 miles (428.9 km).
Before the race, Jimmie Johnson was leading the Drivers' Championship with 129 points, while Brad Keselowski stood in second with 124 points. Dale Earnhardt Jr. followed in the third position, seventeen points ahead of Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards in fourth and fifth. Mark Martin, with 95, was two points ahead of Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle, as Clint Bowyer was one point ahead of Aric Almirola in tenth, and two points ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Paul Menard completed the first twelve positions with 82 points. The defending winner of the race was Keselowski, who won the race in 2012.

### Entry list

(R) - Denotes rookie driver.
(i) - Denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Sponsor |
| 1 | Jamie McMurray | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | Cessna |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Penske Racing | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 5 | Kasey Kahne | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Great Clips |
| 7 | Dave Blaney | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | SANY |
| 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | DeWalt / Stanley Tools |
| 10 | Danica Patrick (R) | Stewart–Haas Racing | Chevrolet | GoDaddy.com |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | FedEx Freight |
| 13 | Casey Mears | Germain Racing | Ford | GEICO |
| 14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart–Haas Racing | Chevrolet | Bass Pro Shops / Mobil 1 |
| 15 | Clint Bowyer | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | NAPA Filters |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 3M |
| 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (R) | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Best Buy |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | M&M's |
| 19 | Mike Bliss (i) | Humphrey Smith Racing | Toyota | Plinker Tactical |
| 20 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | The Home Depot / Husky Tools |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Penske Racing | Ford | Shell / Pennzoil |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Drive to End Hunger |
| 27 | Paul Menard | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Sylvania / Menards |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 30 | David Stremme | Swan Racing | Toyota | Swan Energy |
| 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Cheerios |
| 32 | Terry Labonte | FAS Lane Racing | Ford | OXY Water |
| 33 | Landon Cassill (i) | Circle Sport | Chevrolet | Little Joe's Autos |
| 34 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | Dockside Logistics |
| 35 | Josh Wise (i) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | MDS Transport |
| 36 | J. J. Yeley | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | United Mining Equipment |
| 38 | David Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | A&W All American Food |
| 39 | Ryan Newman | Stewart–Haas Racing | Chevrolet | Haas Automation |
| 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | Target / Mountain Dew |
| 43 | Aric Almirola | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | Smithfield |
| 44 | Scott Riggs | Xxxtreme Motorsports | Ford | No Label Watches |
| 47 | Bobby Labonte | JTG Daugherty Racing | Toyota | Bush's Beans |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Lowe's / Kobalt Tools |
| 51 | A. J. Allmendinger | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | Guy Roofing |
| 55 | Brian Vickers (i) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | Aaron's Dream Machine |
| 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 78 | Kurt Busch | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | Furniture Row / Beautyrest |
| 83 | David Reutimann | BK Racing | Toyota | Burger King / Dr Pepper |
| 87 | Joe Nemechek (i) | NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing | Toyota | Maddie's Place |
| 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | National Guard |
| 93 | Travis Kvapil | BK Racing | Toyota | Burger King / Dr Pepper |
| 95 | Scott Speed | Leavine Family Racing | Ford | Sin City Motorsports |
| 98 | Michael McDowell | Phil Parsons Racing | Ford | Phil Parsons Racing |
| 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | Kellogg's / Frosted Flakes |
| Official entry list |||||

### Practice and qualifying

Three practice sessions were held before the race. The first session, held on March 15, 2013, was 90 minutes long. The second and third were held on March 16, and were both 60 minutes long. During the first practice session, Keselowski was quickest with a time of 14.869, ahead of Kenseth and Kyle Busch in second and third. Bowyer followed in the fourth position, ahead of Hamlin in fifth.
In the Saturday morning session, Busch was quickest, ahead of Kenseth and Hamlin in second and third. Jeff Burton and Kahne followed in the fourth and fifth positions. Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch, and Johnson rounded out the first ten positions. Busch and Keselowski were quickest during ten consecutive laps with an average speed of 124.874 miles per hour (200.965 km/h) and 124.702 miles per hour (200.688 km/h), respectively. In the final practice session for the race, Busch remained quickest with a time of 15.372 seconds. Kahne followed in second, ahead of David Gilliland and Kenseth in third and fourth. Hamlin, who was third quickest in second practice, only managed fifth.
During qualifying, forty-four cars were entered, but only forty-three were able to start because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure. Busch clinched his eleventh career pole position, with a record-setting time of 14.813 seconds. After his qualifying run, Busch commented, “The car felt great during that lap. We’ve never really worried too much about qualifying runs. We unloaded with a really good race car and we just kept fine-tuning to make it a little bit better – and we were able to get it where it was pretty quick in practice.” He was joined on the front row of the grid by Kahne. Hamlin qualified third, Brian Vickers took fourth, and Paul Menard started fifth, after being scored fifteenth in the final practice session. McMurray, Keselowski, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr., and Joey Logano completed the first ten positions on the grid. The driver that failed to qualify was Scott Riggs.

## Results
### Qualifying

| Grid | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 14.813 | 129.535 |
| 2 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 14.875 | 128.995 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 14.879 | 128.960 |
| 4 | 55 | Brian Vickers | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 14.929 | 128.528 |
| 5 | 27 | Paul Menard | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 14.949 | 128.356 |
| 6 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 14.957 | 128.288 |
| 7 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Penske Racing | Ford | 14.966 | 128.211 |
| 8 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 14.990 | 128.005 |
| 9 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 14.997 | 127.946 |
| 10 | 22 | Joey Logano | Penske Racing | Ford | 15.005 | 127.877 |
| 11 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.006 | 127.869 |
| 12 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 15.008 | 127.852 |
| 13 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.010 | 127.835 |
| 14 | 38 | David Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 15.015 | 127.792 |
| 15 | 13 | Casey Mears | Germain Racing | Ford | 15.039 | 127.588 |
| 16 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.048 | 127.512 |
| 17 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 15.053 | 127.470 |
| 18 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.055 | 127.453 |
| 19 | 78 | Kurt Busch | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | 15.062 | 127.393 |
| 20 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 15.064 | 127.377 |
| 21 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 15.066 | 127.360 |
| 22 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 15.066 | 127.360 |
| 23 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 15.073 | 127.300 |
| 24 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 15.078 | 127.258 |
| 25 | 83 | David Reutimann | BK Racing | Toyota | 15.093 | 127.132 |
| 26 | 30 | David Stremme | Swan Racing | Toyota | 15.157 | 126.595 |
| 27 | 95 | Scott Speed | Leavine Family Racing | Ford | 15.159 | 126.578 |
| 28 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 15.165 | 126.528 |
| 29 | 51 | A. J. Allmendinger | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 15.178 | 126.420 |
| 30 | 34 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 15.180 | 126.403 |
| 31 | 39 | Ryan Newman | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 15.200 | 126.237 |
| 32 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.235 | 125.947 |
| 33 | 7 | Dave Blaney | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 15.247 | 125.848 |
| 34 | 98 | Michael McDowell | Phil Parsons Racing | Ford | 15.260 | 125.740 |
| 35 | 36 | J. J. Yeley | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 15.261 | 125.732 |
| 36 | 19 | Mike Bliss | Humphrey Smith Racing | Toyota | 15.264 | 125.708 |
| 37 | 93 | Travis Kvapil | BK Racing | Toyota | 15.333 | 125.142 |
| 38 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing | Toyota | 15.363 | 124.897 |
| 39 | 47 | Bobby Labonte | JTG Daugherty Racing | Toyota | 15.382 | 124.743 |
| 40 | 35 | Josh Wise | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 15.386 | 124.711 |
| 41 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 15.395 | 124.638 |
| 42 | 33 | Landon Cassill | Circle Sport | Chevrolet | 15.427 | 124.379 |
| 43 | 32 | Terry Labonte | FAS Lane Racing | Ford | 15.560 | 123.316 |
| Failed to Qualify |||||||
| | 44 | Scott Riggs | Xxxtreme Motorsport | Ford | 15.418 | 124.452 |
| Source: |||||||

### Race results

| Pos | Grid | Car | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 2 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 47 |
| 2 | 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 43 |
| 3 | 7 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Penske Racing | Ford | 500 | 42 |
| 4 | 19 | 78 | Kurt Busch | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 41 |
| 5 | 23 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 500 | 39 |
| 6 | 32 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 38 |
| 7 | 31 | 39 | Ryan Newman | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 37 |
| 8 | 4 | 55 | Brian Vickers | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 500 | – |
| 9 | 5 | 27 | Paul Menard | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 35 |
| 10 | 6 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 34 |
| 11 | 24 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 500 | 33 |
| 12 | 9 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 500 | 32 |
| 13 | 29 | 51 | A. J. Allmendinger | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 31 |
| 14 | 18 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 30 |
| 15 | 15 | 13 | Casey Mears | Germain Racing | Ford | 500 | 29 |
| 16 | 28 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 500 | 28 |
| 17 | 10 | 22 | Joey Logano | Penske Racing | Ford | 500 | 28 |
| 18 | 21 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 499 | 26 |
| 19 | 22 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 499 | 25 |
| 20 | 26 | 30 | David Stremme | Swan Racing | Toyota | 498 | 24 |
| 21 | 30 | 34 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 498 | 24 |
| 22 | 13 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 498 | 22 |
| 23 | 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 498 | 21 |
| 24 | 14 | 38 | David Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 496 | 20 |
| 25 | 43 | 32 | Terry Labonte | FAS Lane Racing | Ford | 496 | 19 |
| 26 | 40 | 35 | Josh Wise | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 496 | – |
| 27 | 35 | 36 | J. J. Yeley | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 495 | 17 |
| 28 | 41 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 495 | 16 |
| 29 | 38 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing | Toyota | 490 | – |
| 30 | 17 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 487 | 14 |
| 31 | 8 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 464 | 13 |
| 32 | 16 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 458 | 12 |
| 33 | 42 | 33 | Landon Cassill | Circle Sport | Chevrolet | 410 | 11 |
| 34 | 11 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 390 | 11 |
| 35 | 12 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 390 | 10 |
| 36 | 33 | 7 | Dave Blaney | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 321 | 8 |
| 37 | 20 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 245 | 7 |
| 38 | 37 | 93 | Travis Kvapil | BK Racing | Toyota | 234 | 6 |
| 39 | 25 | 83 | David Reutimann | BK Racing | Toyota | 184 | 5 |
| 40 | 27 | 95 | Scott Speed | Leavine Family Racing | Ford | 184 | 4 |
| 41 | 39 | 47 | Bobby Labonte | JTG Daugherty Racing | Toyota | 159 | 3 |
| 42 | 34 | 98 | Michael McDowell | Phil Parsons Racing | Ford | 26 | 2 |
| 43 | 36 | 19 | Mike Bliss | Humphrey Smith Racing | Toyota | 3 | – |
| Source: ||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Brad Keselowski | 171 |
| 1 | 2 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 157 |
| 2 | 3 | Jimmie Johnson | 151 |
| 5 | 4 | Clint Bowyer | 128 |
| 3 | 5 | Greg Biffle | 126 |
| 2 | 6 | Denny Hamlin | 125 |
| 7 | 7 | Kasey Kahne | 124 |
| 3 | 8 | Carl Edwards | 124 |
| 3 | 9 | Paul Menard | 118 |
| 7 | 10 | Kyle Busch | 115 |
| | 11 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 115 |
| 3 | 12 | Joey Logano | 104 |
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 29 |
| 2 | Toyota | 25 (-4) |
| 3 | Ford | 22 (-7) |