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Dale Earnhardt Jr. presses Jordan Bianchi for NASCAR winner prediction at Bristol

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•04/09/25•

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Le Mans
(Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is looking forward to the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol on Sunday and asked an insider for his thoughts on what’s going to happen. On Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt asked Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic who is the favorite to win the Food City 500.

“I don’t know how you go against Denny Hamlin,” Bianchi said. He’s won what two of the last three races (at Bristol)?” Earnhardt asked if Hamlin can win his third consecutive race on Sunday.

“He’s never done it in his career before,” Bianchi replied. But he’s won two of the last three races at Bristol. If it’s going to be a tire management race, who’s better at saving their tires than Denny Hamlin? Be really hard to bet against him right now. Momentum is a huge thing in the sport.”

Dale Earnhardt has more questions about the NASCAR Bristol race

Dale Earnhardt Jr. then asked Jordan Bianchi which two drivers would earn top-10 finishes at Bristol. “Chris Buescher, former Bristol winner a few years ago,” Bianchi said. “I wouldn’t be shocked if he wins, had a lot of speed in that race car. We’ve talked about how RFK has been really well.”

The other driver Bianchi mentioned was “Bubba Wallace. Bristol has been a good place for him over the years. Go back to the Richard Petty days, that has got some mojo right now. I know Darlington didn’t go how they wanted it to. Don’t be shocked if Bubba has a really, really strong day.”

Earnhardt also asked about Kyle Busch and if he can finish in the top 10 on Sunday. “It’s like Darlington. They got a top 10 there and they ran well,” Bianchi stated. “It’s a driver’s track. If he’s going to get a win and snap this streak, Bristol would be a good place for it.”

NASCAR has two Cup Series races at Bristol each year. Hamlin won the Food City 500 last spring, and Kyle Larson won the Bass Pro Shops Night Race this past fall. If Hamlin wins on Sunday, he will be the second driver to win three consecutive races this year (Christopher Bell being the first).