Skip to main content
Join
NASCAR Logo

Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Joe Gibbs, and Richard Childress give the command for the Food City 500 at Bristol

JHby:Jonathan Howard•03/17/24•

Jondean25

richard petty
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

We are ready for some NASCAR racing at Bristol in the Food City 500. Richard Petty was joined by Kyle Petty, Joe Gibbs, and Richard Childress on the command.

There are few quartets as legendary and iconic as this group here. The King and his son, Coach Gibbs, and RC himself – that’s a lot of wins, championships, and accomplishments. It was an old-school command for an old-school race at Bristol.

Listen to this start and tell me it doesn’t get you ready to race 500 laps at Bristol! The Food City 500 is back this Spring, we’ve got concrete and red and white walls just like when The King was racing around – it’s going to be a ton of fun, so let’s go racing.

There is no one as cool as Richard Petty, I don’t care what you say. That man is a living legend and when he walks around, it’s hard to not notice him, his style, and his attitude. when you have won 200 Cup Series races, you have a confidence about you that few others possess.

Of course, Kyle Petty has a style of his own and always had. Then you have Childress and Gibbs dressing up in the same outfit. Those team owners like a white dress shirt and black vest, apparently. Also, notice the “Gentlemen” command and not “Drivers.” I’m sure many fans will appreciate that throwback touch.

Food City 500 favorites

Another week and another race where Kyle Larson is considered the favorite, at least according to Las Vegas. Larson has had a good season this year, he has a win, a dominating one at that.

After qualifying, I’m not sure if Larson is a favorite. There are fast cars from Joe Gibbs Racing, in the Ford group, even Chase Elliott has speed that Larson lacked in qualifying. Based on the qualifying session, tires are going to matter a ton and drivers will have to pick and choose their grooves wisely all evening.

Bristol is a special track. The history, the high banks, and all that it means to NASCAR fans and drivers. These drivers are going to put it all out there for a chance at winning in The Last Great Colosseum.

Richard Petty and friends got the race started with a classic command. Now, it’s time to race and see which drivers and teams can master this concrete track the best.