Practice & Heat Races
Heat races will be used to set the fields for both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Cup Series during the upcoming dirt weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway in March. (Todd Ridgeway photo)

Practice & Heat Races Added To Bristol Dirt Weekend

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Bristol Motor Speedway officials announced Wednesday that Bush’s Beans qualifying heat races will be conducted for both the NASCAR Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series during Food City Dirt Race weekend.

In addition, a Bush’s Beans Practice Day has been added for March 26, following NASCAR’s release of its official event schedule for the March 26-28 weekend.

On Saturday, March 27, both series will hit the dirt during Bush’s Beans Qualifying Day.

Four 15-lap heat races in both the NASCAR Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series will be conducted to determine the starting lineups for each main race.

Bush’s Beans qualifying heat races for the Food City Dirt Race in the Cup Series will be held at 6, 6:15, 6:30 and 6:45 p.m.

The four Bush’s Beans qualifying heat races for the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt will be held at 4:30, 4:45, 5 and 5:15 p.m.

The Bush’s Beans qualifying heat races on Saturday will precede the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt, which will take the green flag at 8 p.m. ET.

Bush’s Beans Practice Day will take place Friday, March 26, and will feature two scheduled practice sessions for both the NASCAR Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series.

As part of Bush’s Beans Practice Day, the hour-long Cup Series practices will be held at 4:05 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. Two hour-long practices also will be held for the Camping World Truck Series, at 3:05 p.m. and 5:35 p.m.

A limited number of socially-distanced grandstand seats along the BMS frontstretch will be allotted for spectators to purchase for Friday’s Bush’s Beans Practice Day at $15 each.

Saturday’s Bush’s Beans Qualifying heat races in the Cup Series will set the field for Sunday’s historic Food City Dirt Race, which takes the green flag at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The Food City Dirt Race is the first dirt race for the Cup Series in the sport’s modern era. The last time the Cup Series raced on a dirt surface was in September of 1970 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, won by Richard Petty.

Bush Brothers & Company, an East Tennessee based business, has been a BMS partner since 2015 and recently extended its multi-year agreement.

“We are thrilled to have Bush’s Beans as the entitlement sponsor for these important events that will set the racing lineups for the Food City Dirt Race and the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager, Bristol Motor Speedway. “Bush’s Beans Practice Day on Friday will allow the drivers in both the Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series to sling some dirt and break in their machines on the dirt-covered high banks. On Saturday, fans will be treated to some intense 15-lap heat races in both series during Bush’s Beans Qualifying, which will set the starting grids for the Food City Dirt Race and the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt.”

“Bush’s Beans is excited to be a part of NASCAR’s dirt-track racing history while deepening its relationships with motorsports fans and the local community,” added Drew Everett, chairman of the board for Bush Brothers & Company. “Bristol is one of the greatest venues in sports and entertainment and the Food City Dirt Race weekend will be a memorable event for years to come.”