Three to watch in the Food City 500

With Food City celebrating its silver (25th) anniversary of sponsoring the spring race at the Bristol Motor Speedway, this will be one of the most prestigious events in the speedway's recent history and everyone is going to want to get a good result; here are three drivers that you'll want to keep your eyes on throughout the course of the event.

Dale Earnhardt Jr: He may have only been able to start three of the last four races at Bristol due to a concussion in the latter stages of 2016 forcing him to miss August race but those three races have seen Dale Jr score some strong results. With an average finish of just 9.00, junior has been the second most successful driver at Bristol since February 2015. That average finish is made up of a second place finish in this race last year despite an ECU problem dropping him two laps down in the opening stages, a ninth place finish in the 2015 August race and a sixteenth in the 2015 running of this race despite having to make an additional pit stop for a flat tire. With three good results in the last three races, a good history of pace at Bristol and the fact that Jr is coming off the back of his best result so far this season makes him a strong contender for victory in this year's race.

Dale Jr practising for the 2016 Food City 500; A race which we would finish in second place

Clint Bowyer: After a difficult 2016 season racing for HScott Motorsports, Bowyer has seemingly been rejuvenated this season with three top ten finishes to his name so far and he currently sits ninth in points behind the wheel of his Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. The thirty seven year old finished this race in eighth place last year; his best non restrictor-plate finish and one of only three top ten results. This has contributed to an average finish of 14.00 since February 2015 which is also made up of a twelfth and fifth place finish in the two 2015 races whilst driving a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Camry. He has ten finishes inside the top ten at Bristol so far in his career and he would love to add to that in this weekend's race - with arguably his best car in the past few years and a desire to end his 159 race winless streak you will definitely want to keep an eye on him.

Bowyer scored his best non restrictor-plate finish in this race last year. Pictured with Jeffrey Earnhardt

Ricky Stenhouse Jr: In a similar manner to Bowyer, Roush Fenway Racing have also seen a dramatic increase in performance compared to last year with both Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr scoring top ten finishes so far. Of the two, it's Stenhouse Jr who has the best record at Bristol with an average finish of just 10.75 since February 2015 - the fifth best of any driver. That average finish is made up of a fourth and twenty first in 2015 and a sixteenth and second in 2016. Whilst it may seem like the Mississippi native always has one good and one average race at Bristol, the past few years have been a difficult time for his team. With the speed and consistency of Roush Fenway being improved over the past few years coupled with this being of Stenhouse's best tracks, he has the potential to be a serious contender at Bristol so you'll want to keep an eye out for him.

Bristol is always one of Stenhouse's best tracks. Pictured racing Kyle Busch in the 2016 race.

Images: fansided.com, jeffreyearnhardt.com, zimbic.com

Words: Jordan Hines (@JordanHines33)

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