Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tennessee
Free Practice, Wednesday

"Well it's good to know Newman is almost ready to come back, I know Blaney still feels shaken up over it."

"Chastain has been doing his part, but I get to talk more with him during the races since he's still recovering."

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had just wrapped up their time at practice, though some cars were still on the track. Qualifying would be starting the following day, and Sweetie Belle especially was feeling good. The #12 car may have been the third wheel of Team Penske but Ryan Blaney had been the Cup points leader for a good part of the season. Sweetie was getting her hooves around the car, and some help from Blaney and a little coaching from her sister she was starting to fit into the team. She was posting some fast laps when compared to her fellow Ford's.

"He's going to be back in the car soon, I'll be looking forward to it." Scootaloo said with a hint of excitement as the pair stopped at the #6 hauler. As Scootaloo went to step into the hauler she recieved a wave from a passerby eating a Subway sandwich and wearing a hat with a number 99 on it. Scootaloo eye's gleaned at the sight of the man as she raced over to meet him.

"Cousin Carl!" She shouted in excitement, about tackling the former Roush driver by the legs.

"Oh, hey just who I was looking for."

"Really?! for me?"

"Yeah, I saw that backflip at Vegas. Nice touch."

"Heh, the squirt always did love showoffs." Rainbow Dash appeared hovering over Carl Edwards, touching down next to him. "And I'll say, your pretty good at that yourself."

"It's the one thing I have Kyle doesn't."

"Wait Dash, why are you and Carl together? I thought Kyle Busch was your mentor." Sweetie questioned. Dash looked sidelong at her before answering.

"I needed some change, find someone a little more light hearted. A guy I can relax with while I sit this week out. I'm sure Dean has the car under control, and the #95 team brought in Gallus. Besides I think I can learn a couple things from him, like...well...how to be calm in defeat and own up for my mistakes."

"That's...admirable of you Dash. I need to get back to my hauler though. See you around Scoots." Sweetie bid the sisters and Cousin Carl farewell on her way out.

Qualifying, Thursday Morning
NAPA Auto Parts 250

Sweetie Belle was going out on track late, so she had a good amount of time to study who to watch out for. She was a little surprised to see the #24, #40, and #11 struggling while others like the #1 and #4 running great laps.

The short track was eating up some drivers while others were doing very well. Currently on the pole was the #42 of Sunset Shimmer with Twilight right beside her. Sweetie Belle was the last to make a run. She got up to speed coming off one of the two pit roads, a unique feature Bristol had. She came up to speed in the yellow and blue Ford Mustang.

A lap a Bristol was only around 15 seconds, and the smallest mistake could cost that much more time. Sweetie hit the ground running, and got a well executed apex on the entrance to turn one. Bristol's heavily banked turns meant that getting on the apron would make the car stumble. Riding along the wall coming off turn 2 and diving into turn three at an exact same angle to that of her entrance into turn one. It was a nearly flawless lap but nearly would not be good enough for pole. She would qualify 7th, but for what she had done before it was a promising place for the young unicorn to start.

1. 42 Sunset Shimmer 15.334

2. 48 Twilight Sparkle 15.339

3. 2 Rarity 15.345

4. 9 Pinkie Pie 15.348

5. 19 Spitfire 15.353

6. 18 Danger Dean 15.355

7. 12 Sweetie Belle 15.357

8. 1 Trixie Lulamoon 15.365

9. 4 Vinyl Scratch 15.368

10. 3 Oscura Galaxia 15.370

11. 20 Fluttershy 15.376

12. 88 Starlight Glimmer 15.386

13. 22 Applejack 15.388

14. 11 Lightning Dust 15.393

15. 8 Bloothy 15.398

16. 24 Viral Velocity 15.403

17. 6 Scootaloo 15.407

18. 40 Akula 15.416

19. 21 Apple Bloom 15.426

20. 10 Octavia Melody 15.431

21. 14 Lyra Heartstrings 15.436

22. 41 Derpy Hooves 15.439

23. 95 Gallus 15.443

24. 37 Vapor Trail 15.446

25. 47 Sky Stinger 15.452

"Welcome back to Bristol Motor Speedway as we get ready for the command to fire engines in the NAPA Auto Parts 250. Once again I'm Mike Joy joined by Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer. Our first stop at many short tracks to come, and some new favorites to look out for Jeff."

"Yeah some great qualifying times from drivers you don't often see at the front and likewise some drivers in the midpack who we usually see up front during the races."

"Well Jeff a lot of drivers tend to enjoy driving at certain types of tracks that would benefit their background or driving style."

"As the field gets ready to head onto track we'll get late breaking stories starting with Regan Smith."

"Thanks Mike, JGR
Has been in a bit of turmoil following the events that transpired last week at Texas, but it seems they are in a good place to bounce back. I'm here with the #95 team, Dean's driving the #18 this week, and driving this car is Gallus who also has a promising career in open wheel to his credit. Akula has transitioned well in the #40 this year, let's see how Gallus does today Jamie."

"Thanks Regan, and let's talk about Akula's teammates this year. Sunset Shimmer starting on pole and Trixie in a respectable eighth to start. Both of them have expressed their preference in short tracks, Sunset in particular confident she has what it takes to dominate the schedule. She's starting on pole, so a great start. Matt."

"Jamie let's not count out the #48, just take a look at the finishes Twilight has had so far this season. In the first seven races she has knocked up five top tens and four top fives with a pair of runner up finishes. Her only finishes outside the top ten? A blown engine at Homestead and a wreck in Phoenix not her fault. I had a talk with Chad Knaus just a few minutes ago, he thinks that Bristol is so far the best chance they have getting their first win on the year. Anything else Jr. ?"

"Sure do Matt, I've got a pick for this race and it's the #12 car. Sweetie Belle so far has been slowly improving behind the wheel indeed Ryan Blaney and had a great qualifying time. Dark horse pic, pardon my way with words, but I think she could be an upset winner today."

"Well thanks Junior, pleasure having you trackside today. Let's have a chat with our polesitter today. Clint could you dual up the #42 for us?"

"Sunset, this is Clint Bowyer up in the both with the guys you read me?"

"10-4 Clint what ya got?"

"You've got a good set of finishes under your name so far this season, but this is your first pole if the year. How confident are you that you can turn this into your first win?"

"Well Bristol was one of the tracks I was excited for, lot of great names made a career at this track. Have to be very aggressive for track position, and after yesterday I feel like I've got a car that can do it."

"Strong words there Shimmer, good luck today."

"Thanks Clint."

"Just over a half mile per lap here at Bristol gives us 452 laps in Thunder Valley, two stages of one hundred fifteen and a two hundred twenty-two lap final stage. There will be some beating and banging. We'll be right back for the green flag here at Bristol."

"Junior's rooting for you today, that's something to be proud of. Coming to green this time by."

Sweetie Belle was in as good a position she could ask for the start of the race, on the inside lane and towards the front of the field. Bristol was known for chaotic starts, and over the last few years had several multi car wrecks on the first lap to her name. The green flag was given to the field with Sunset and Twilight going in side by side through turn one. The field continued double wide behind them, with no takers for three wide on the first lap. Sunset and Twilight continued to fight for the lead side by side, Rarity and Pinkie behind them borrowing draft from the two leaders as the field began to spread behind them. By lap five, Sunset finally cleared the #48 and began to pull ahead.

Sweetie had net leveled out on position, settling in 7th where she had qualified. with the #4 and #1 side by side behind her and slowly falling back it would be where she stayed for the time being.

Lap 25

Close behind the #12, the action between Trixie and Vinyl began to heat up with some faster cars. Oscura had already passed then as did Starlight. Lightning Dust, Fluttershy, and Applejack all lined up behind them looking for an opening. Lightning Dust was the first to take a look, as the #1 bobbled in turn 3. Trixie kept the car straight, bumping Vinyl as she did so. The #11 flew by exiting turn four, and Trixie pulled away to follow. As the #20 of Fluttershy also got by without any problems it was evident that the #4 was in trouble.

Vinyl's left rear had been punctured by the side exhaust of the Chevrolet, and going into turn one the tire shredded. The #22 took evasive action down low as the #4 pounded the outside wall with the rear and slid down the track. Vinyl failed to hold the brakes at the right time, and as such was now a sitting duck in the middle of turn 2 as the next four cars of Viral, Bloothy, Scootaloo, and Akula each went different ways around her.

Viral was the first in line and had committed to the outside line to get around the #8. Fully in the gas she found the gap in between the car and wall narrowly avoided a hard collision. The other three went down below and out of harms way.

Just as the caution came out, it would be the #21 of Apple Bloom who made the first error. Taking her evasive line too late, she plowed into the rear fender of the #4 and coasted up into the wall. The left front took considerable damage but she was able to bring it back to pit lane. Vinyl also pulled away, but soon the extent of the damage to the rear was realized and the team cut their losses as they took it to the garage. The rest of the field behind them all passed by on the low line under yellow.

On the first replay it was as easy as finding where the contact point happened between the two cars, and the replay also clearly saw the left rear down on the car. What the replay did give a new angle on was how close the #24 got to hitting the #4. They took an onboard the Viral, watching from her perspective as she shot through the gap with almost no room to spare.

Jeff chuckled a tiny bit.

"Doesn't get much closer than that Mike."

"Well let's hear what she had to say about that encounter."

"That was way too damn close. I just about scrapped the paint off her rear fender.

"10-4, car looks clean from here."

"I'd appreciate not having another moment like that, not having much of a good time already trying to steer a boat around here."

"Tight?"

"Maybe...feels like power steering."

"Power steering problems this early is bad." Noted Clint. "And especially here she's going to be fighting to turn that wheel all day. It's going to wear her down heavily as her day continues."

Green flag racing was resumed, with the #42 pulling out to a much better jump and the #2 pulling alongside the #48. Sweetie maintained pace with the two Toyota's ahead of her as the laps counted away. Lap after lap the #42 pulled out to a huge lead, almost beginning to hit lap traffic as she rounded turn four to end the stage. Stage one was an easy victory for Sunset, and her first stage win of the season.

Stage 1 Results

1. 42 Sunset Shimmer 10 Points (+1 Playoff Point)

2. 2 Rarity 9 Points

3. 48 Twilight Sparkle 8 Points

4. 9 Pinkie Pie 7 Points

5. 18 Danger Dean 6 Points

6. 19 Spitfire 5 Points

7. 12 Sweetie Belle 4 Points

8. 11 Lightning Dust 3 Points

9. 20 Fluttershy 2 Points

10. 22 Applejack 1 Point

Pit stops at Bristol had always been a circus, the field split into two different pit lanes one the back and front stretch to accommodate the entire field. The entire field came down for tires and fuel, 13 on the front stretch and then 12 on the back.

Leading the 13 on the front would be the #42, and Sunset's crew would get her out in front of the rest of the field. On the back the #48 brought the rest of the pack down, and her team also kept her on the front row for the restart. However there was a mix up that the officials looked into.

Trying to make up the positions they had lost, the #3 of Oscura had taken only right side tires. When she merged back into traffic behind Twilight and Spitfire she sped up to cut in front of Dean. Officials seeing that she would not have been there had she not sped up ordered the #3 team to concede to the #18, but it was ignored.

She was then told to come down to her box for a 10 second penalty, and after her crew chief got some sense into her she finally came down to serve the penalty that could have been avoided.

Another thing that could have been avoided was the magical symbol she flashed to the official in front of her car to show her displeasure. NASCAR promptly told her to come back, which she of course protested.

After all that was said and done. They just had nothing they could do but put the #3 a lap down and let her continue, and after an extended yellow flag the race resumed at lap 116.

Lap 137

The normal names were still up front, with Sunset and Twilight being the two clear favorites stretching a gap to third and beyond. Though, the #3 was now two laps down and not because of another penalty. Oscura had been unusually slow compared to her early pace, and the leaders were running by her at full speed. Spitfire, Rarity, and Pinkie also passed her with relative ease. Behind that, Sweetie Belle had the #18 in her sights and the #3 ahead of them at pace in turn 2. The #18 and #12 were nose to tail three lengths apart. Going onto the backstretch they went alongside the #3, and in the most blatant move so far that season the #3 cut across the track and clipped the #18. With no time to react Dean was sent headlong into the inside barrier and grinded slowly to a crawl, shutting it down in the infield at turn three.

NASCAR promptly threw the book at Oscura, who had pushed enough buttons to be disqualified for the remainder of the race. A trip to the garage was carried out in short order.

The field was reset once again, and the usual suspects took the front of the field. Sunset and Twilight were blow for blow, but some adjustments the #48 team had made gave the alicorn the edge she was looking for. After a couple laps she began to lead her first laps, but Sunset was always right behind her waiting for a mistake.

Lap 203

The green flag run was continuing, and the field was spread out all over the track. The leaders were lapping back markers as they went. Towards the mid field, Viral Velocity and Akula were in close proximity in a battle for 15th.

Viral was worn out, the loss of power steering early in the race draining her and despite the efforts to make the car easier to turn, it helped little. By the time she had gone 200 laps she was looking her focus.

She entered turn three far too low for a smooth corner and clipping the apron kicked the rear end out. With the speed she was carrying, even with her quick reaction, she pounded the outside wall with the right rear. The #40 took evasive action and cleared low as the #24 slid down the track and hit hard with the left front and rested alongside the wall.

The experienced driver took a second to compose herself as she removed the wheel and put down her window net, then climbed from the car.

The broadcast crew had several replays, including an onboard with both the #40 and #24. First they took a look at the #24. As the car hit the curb Viral had jumped out of the gas and lost the back end which was followed by the thud when she hit the outside wall, then another on the inside. Second was Akula, who wasn't far behind. His radio was mostly silent at first, but when the car in front of him lost control his spotter was on quick.

"...Spinning up front, just stay on the bottom. Watch her coming off the wall. Clear, nicely done."

Pit road was abandoned by all remaining cars, and the race continued as normal. But after a few green flag laps Regan Smith caught up with a different driver. Dean, whom had just been cleared at the care center.

"Let's head down to Regan who has caught up with one of the early retirements. Regan?"

"Thanks Mike, Dean tough break out there. You had a good car today, didn't turn out well. You're thoughts on the incident."

Dean scratched his neck instinctively. "Yeah, I mean it doesn't get more blatant than that. At least they got her off the track. I mean that's how it usually goes with her, she doesn't want to admit I'm the better driver so she does the one thing she's good at which is trying to kill me down the backstretch."

"Well I'll let you get on with your day. Tough break once more for the #18 team."

The stage soon came to a close, with Sunset continuing her dominance of the race.

Stage 2 Results

1. 42 Sunset Shimmer 10 Points (+1 Playoff Point)

2. 48 Twilight Sparkle 9 Points

3. 2 Rarity 8 Points

4. 9 Pinkie Pie 7 Points

5. 12 Sweetie Belle 6 Points

6. 19 Spitfire 5 Points

7. 11 Lightning Dust 4 Points

8. 22 Applejack 3 Points

9. 20 Fluttershy 2 Points

10. 1 Trixie Lulamoon 1 Point

The entire field got refueled and changed tires for the beginning of the final stage, Sweetie sat comfortably in 5th but was looking to improve her current position.

Once again, the race went green and the same two cars jumped ahead of the field. Some minor contact between the two Stewart-HAAS cars of Lyra and Octavia didn't produce any long term problems for either driver.

Lap 279

Sweetie Belle was now in a tense three car battle for fourth place with Pinkie and Spitfire. The two cars were in front of her side by side and neither could seem to clear the other for very long. She made a choice to help the #19 get by with a tap.

It was enough to help the Wonderbolt hold her spot, but a couple laps later Pinkie repayed that deed and gave the #12 a boost to try and regain her position.

Sweetie's car was in a good rythum, and she was able to pull away slightly before the green flag pit stops commenced several laps later.

She came in for her stop early, for the full service of four tires to make sure she got to the end. Also in the four tire camp were race leader Sunset Shimmer and Rarity ahead in third.

Twilight took a calculated risk, banking on right side tires for a lead change and hoping the traffic between her and Sunset Shimmer would be able to hold the dominant unicorn long enough to secure the win.

Lap 446

Twilight's strategy had gone well for the time being, but while Sunset had initially been stuck behind some slower cars the relatively small field allowed the #42 to gain ground relatively quickly.

They were getting to the closing laps, and Sunset was using every trick she knew to tighten the gap. Running the outside lane, cause she knew Twilight would defend the bottom.

She was now the first car behind the #48 with no traffic between them, it was her chance to finish off the battle. However, the reason she was closing so fast was because it was Twilight who was slowing down.

She thought the traffic would allow her to ease up and bring her tires the distance, but she had needed to push to keep the lead for as long as she did, and her left side tires would not hold forever. On lap 446, less than 10 laps away from a victory, and with Sunset peeking on her outside going into turn two, the left front tire gave way as she went to turn in.

Similarly to what happening between Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth in 2013, Twilight's car drifted suddenly into Sunset Shimmer and pinned her against the wall. The nose of the #48 bounced off the wall, and the #42 turned in and off the wall spinning the #48 down the track in the process. Neither of the cars were damaged enough to be out of the race, but they were not going to be in contention for the win.

The left front contact had punched in Sunset's fender, and likewise for the #48 on the right side and front end. It was a disaster for the two favorites the entire race. Both of them took their cars to the attention of the crews, Sunset's damage was minor and could be dealt with by putting on new tires, she would restart on the lead lap at the back of the field in 16th. Twilight took some moderate nose damage that needed to be cleared of her right front tire which took some time, but her left front did not do any significant damage. It cost her one lap, but she rejoined the field in time and was now 19th.

Now it was the rest of the field to make a choice, fifteen other cars could either stay out and keep position or gamble with tires for the remaining four lap sprint. Sweetie Belle was in 2nd place, on the outside of her sister and teammate. it was up to that point the best race she had all season, and she wanted to stay out. But at the same time, if all the cars behind her pit she would get swarmed by them with one hundred plus lap tires.

But, the call was made. She would stay out, as would Rarity. Pit road was opened, and eight cars took tires. Pinkie, Spitfire, Fluttershy, Trixie, Scootaloo, Starlight, Akula, and Octavia all put on fresh rubber and joined at the tail end of the lead lap in respective order. This brought Lightning Dust who bailed on her stop up to the second row with Applejack.

Suddenly Penske had it's three cars in the top four, and Rarity grabbed the outside lane to pick up Applejack for the restart leaving Sweetie Belle to fend off the #11. The field came through for one final restart on lap 449 with 4 laps to go. Lightning Dust's rear tires spun badly and she fell off the #12 rapidly. Rarity cleared off turn two and covered the spot. Penske first, second, third, and behind them was a cluster of cars with old tires getting shuffled out. In two laps Sunset showed why she was the best car in the field fighting back into the top ten while Pinkie passed Lightning with her fresh tires and began hounding the #22. In turn three the #9 got alongside her but could not complete the move while the #22 was being defensive on the inside. The #12 and #2 began to pull away, leaving sisters and teammates to decide the win.

Two laps to go, but Sweetie was being patient. partially cause it wasn't a good time, and partially cause if she crashed herself or her sister there would be an unpleasant conversation. With a now four car length gap between them and the #9 they hit the white flag lap. In turn one, Rarity made one slip. Loose on the exit of two and it let Sweetie inside. Side by side through three and four but Sweetie couldn't hold her line on the bottom.

She did all she could to stay off her sister, and as Rarity went on to take her second win of the season Sweetie got off the gas in a fish tail and caught the inside with her left rear, but she still finished second. It was her best of the season so far, and while she didn't get the win, a one-two finish with her sister and a top five for all three Penske cars was more than a good day. Sunset would recover for seventh, and Twilight was the best car a lap down in 17th.

As Rarity celebrated her second win, and Penske's third of the season, The #42 drove up to the #48 in the pit lane. She and Twi exchanged words, but no hooves were thrown between them. Twilight admitted fault, which is all Sunset wanted.

Soon enough, Jamie came over to talk with her as well.

"Sunset, great recovery but after the day you had that's got to be a disappointment."

"Yeah, we led basically the entire race with the best car in the field. This team worked hard all week and it upsets us that our win was taken because of a car that was following our tail the whole race. I've got no hate for Twilight anymore, but being a smartass and trying to play strategy screwed her and it screwed me so...maybe next time she'll think about being the driver and not the crew chief."

"Thanks Shimmer."

"Thank you."

Meanwhile, Regan Smith caught up with the other side of the incident and asked Twilight her thoughts.

"Yeah, and I get that she's upset but that's racing. Accidents are going to happen. I took a gamble and it didn't work, and she wants to drive up to me and blame me for something I had no control over. Every pony wants to win, that's how this shit works, and if the entitled one wants to believe she deserves it then let her. I felt like I earned it too, but neither of us are out there so we deal with it. We pack up, we get ready for the next race."

Twilight parted ways with Regan as the feed cut back to the broadcast booth.

"Great race tonight, and with her second win of the season Rarity has guaranteed her spot in the playoffs. Join us at Richmond next time, I'm Mike Joy for Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer....good night."

Finishing Positions

1. 2 Rarity 40 Points (+5 Playoff Points)

2. 12 Sweetie Belle 35 Points

3. 9 Pinkie Pie 34 Points

4. 22 Applejack 33 Points

5. 19 Spitfire 32 Points

6. 11 Lightning Dust 31 Points

7. 42 Sunset Shimmer 30 Points

8. 20 Fluttershy 29 Points

9. 8 Bloothy 28 Points

10. 88 Starlight Glimmer 27 Points

11. 10 Octavia Melody 26 Points

12. 1 Trixie Lulamoon 25 Points

13. 40 Akula 24 Points

14. 37 Vapor Trail 23 Points

15. 14 Lyra Heartstrings 22 Points

16. 6 Scootaloo 21 Points

17. 48 Twilight Sparkle 20 Points (1 Lap Down)

18. 41 Derpy Hooves 19 Points (1 Lap Down)

19. 47 Sky Stinger 18 Points (1 Lap Down)

20. 21 Apple Bloom 17 Points (11 Laps Down)

21. 24 Viral Velocity 16 Points (DNF Lap 203)

22. Danger Dean 15 Points (DNF Lap 137)

23. 3 Oscura Galaxia 14 Points (DSQ Lap 137, 2 Laps Down)

24. 4 Vinyl Scratch 13 Points (DNF Lap 25)

25. Rainbow Dash 12 Points (DNQ, Driver Change)

Standings

1. Rarity 284 Points (2 Wins- 10 Playoff Points)

2. Applejack 290 Points (1 Win-7 Playoff Points)

3. Lightning Dust 277 Points (1 Win-6 Playoff Points)

4. Viral Velocity 265 Points (1 Win-7 Playoff Points)

5. Rainbow Dash 239 Points (1 Win-7 Playoff Points)

6. Scootaloo 213 Points (1 Win-5 Playoff Points)

7. Vinyl Scratch 188 Points (1 Win-5 Playoff Points)

8. Twilight Sparkle 308 Points (3 Playoff Points)

9. Sunset Shimmer 305 Points (2 Playoff Points)

10. Pinkie Pie 294 Points (1 Playoff Point)

11. Akula 293 Points (3 Playoff Points)

12. Fluttershy 278 Points

13. Spitfire 271 Points (1 Playoff Point)

14. Danger Dean 252 Points (1 Playoff Point)

15. Sweetie Belle 222 Points

16. Octavia Melody 209 Points

17. Starlight Glimmer 208 Points

18. Bloothy 189 Points

19. Lyra Heartstrings 186 Points

20. Apple Bloom 172 Points

21. Vapor Trail 167 Points

22. Oscura Galaxia 167 Points

23. Trixie Lulamoon 165 Points

24. Derpy Hooves 146 Points

25. Sky Stinger 137 Points

Author's Note

Rarity is now purple in the standings because with two wins she is guaranteed to be in the playoffs, as there will only be 25 races and 16 spots in the playoffs. It is theoretically possible to be knocked out with one win, but there are not enough races for 17 drivers to get two wins.

As such, Rarity is the first driver to completely lock in her spot.

For those who are wondering Gallus finished a respectable 18th. but was not counted in the results since he was not part of the championship. Dash is credited, but with a Did Not Qualify-Driver Change. Lastly, You may have noticed but I moved the wins to be in front of playoff points to correctly label who is where on the current standings.