READY FOR POINTS 'BATTLE' TO RICHMOND, BUESCHER STEPPING UP AGGRESSION

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Chris Buescher has a victory but remains outside the top 30 in points, a situation that the Front Row Motorsports rookie driver hopes to remedy in the coming weeks as he seeks a berth in this year's Chase for the NASCAR  Sprint Cup.

For the third consecutive season, NASCAR's Chase field will consist of drivers in the top 30 in points who have one or more wins, with any remaining positons in the 16-team field determined via points.

Buescher earned his first career Sprint Cup victory at Pocono Raceway, and trails 30th place David Ragan (BK Racing) by only three points heading into Saturday night's Bass Pro Shops NRA 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway (8 p.m. NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR). But it's not just Ragan and the seemingly slim deficit that Buescher said he and his Front Row Motorsports team have their sights set on.

"I think anyone will tell you that it's not necessarily just three points," said Buescher. "It's going to be constantly changing. There are four drivers in this window that can basically upset the balance or change it each and every weekend.

"For us right now, yeah, it's three points to David Ragan, but after Bristol it could be a completely different story. We could gain points on David, but get passed by the one behind us. It's a balance, but we've got to take it week by week.  … We have to capitalize on our weekends as much as possible. That's what is going to be important for us -- to do the best we can and let everything else fall the way it's going to."

Regan Smith trails Buescher by 14 points; Brian Scott sits 11 behind Smith.

Ten drivers have clinched one of the 16 Chase berths based on wins and their current points positions, including defending series champion Kyle Busch and 2012 champ Brad Keselowski. Tony Stewart has a victory, but has yet to officially clinch a spot since the three-time series champ sits 26th in points and could fall out of the top 30.

Eleventh through 16th in points but winless this season are Ryan Newman, Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson and Trevor Bayne.

Should Stewart remain in the top 30 and Buescher advance, only four positons would be set based on points.

Just outside the top 16 are Kasey Kahne and Ryan Blaney.

"Right now, we've got to get all we can get and be aggressive with it to gain points and that's more fun racing," Buescher, one of four drivers competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, said. "We can enjoy these weekends and not be too worried about giving it up, just knowing that we've got to do everything we can do to run as well as possible.

"That's not necessarily saying we've got to try and get ourselves in a fuel window and run out of gas and lose a bunch of spots. It's saying we've got to be aggressive on track, take passes whenever we can get them, and make sure that we can drive forward so that we're earning points versus losing them each of these next four weekends."

Buescher finished 21st at Bristol in the spring race, and said it's "probably one of our better race tracks this year for speed … and this should be a place where we can gain a lot of those points."

But, he added, "the guys that we're racing also run really well here, so it's going be a battle right up to the end of Richmond."

CARL EDWARDS NABS COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD AT BRISTOL

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Denny Hamlin owns a new track record, but Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards won the round that counted in Friday’s knockout qualifying session at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Edwards sped around the .533-mile high-banked concrete short track in 14.602 seconds (131.407 mph) to claim the top starting spot for Saturday's Bass Pro Shops NRA night Race (8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), edging Hamlin (131.200 mph) by .023 seconds.

Remarkably, Edwards earned his fifth Coors Light Pole Award of the season, his fourth at Bristol and the 21st of his career without making a mock qualifying run during either of Friday's two practice sessions. Instead, the driver of the No. 19 Toyota relied on setup information from his teammates – including Hamlin.

"It's nice to have fast teammates," said Edwards, who will try to duplicate his pole-winning, race-winning performance from April. "We wouldn't have had a shot at (the pole) if it wasn’t for them. We thought it was going to rain, so we didn't practice qualifying or anything. My guys made great adjustments based on that information.

"I just hope we can finish it off the way we did in the spring."

All four JGR drivers qualified in the top five for the 23rd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season. Kyle Busch (130.931 mph) will start third and Matt Kenseth (130.619 mph) fifth. The only interloper was Ford driver Ryan Blaney (130.637 mph), who grabbed the fourth spot on the grid in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Fusion.

With a blistering run in 14.573 seconds (131.668 mph) in the first round, Hamlin broke the track record he set for this event last year, eclipsing his own mark of 14.602 seconds (131.407 mph). But Hamlin was the last of 12 drivers out for the final round and fell just short of Edwards' winning time.

"We had really good speed, so I'm pretty optimistic about that," said Hamlin, who will start within the top six for the 15th time this season. "I can't believe we've qualified as good as we have this year and not gotten a pole.

"It's unbelievable – still a great effort by our whole team. I hope we can have a great race up here on (Saturday) night and get in Victory Lane."

Chris Buescher, fighting to crack the top 30 in the standings and qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (based on his victory at Pocono), qualified 12th, one position behind Jeff Gordon, who made the final round for the first time in his fourth start in place of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott had the fastest Chevrolet, qualifying sixth.

NASCAR’s Friday schedule at Bristol Motor Speedway

The Xfinity and Sprint Cup Series get down to business today at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The Xfinity Series qualifies and competes in the Food City 300, and Sprint Cup team practice and qualify for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

Here’s the full Friday schedule for the series, including TV and radio times.

All times are Eastern.

7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open

10 a.m. – Xfinity garage opens

10 – 11:25 a.m. – Sprint Cup practice (NBC Sports App)

12:30 – 1:55 p.m. – Sprint Cup practice (NBC Sports App with USA Network coverage beginning at 1 p.m.)

3:15 p.m. – Xfinity qualifying; three rounds-multi-car (NBC Sports App)

5 p.m. – Xfinity driver-crew chief meeting

5:45 p.m. – Sprint Cup qualifying; three rounds-multi car (USA Network, Performance Radio Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

7 p.m.- Xfinity driver introductions

7:30 p.m. – Food City 300; 300 laps/159.9 miles (USA Network, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives peek at recovery process from concussion

It’s been 68 days since Dale Earnhardt Jr. made contact with Chris Buescher on Lap 63 of the Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway while exiting Turn 2 and pancaked the outside wall, a relatively harmless looking accident.

Since, Earnhardt competed in three more races before sitting out four due to a concussion Earnhardt and his doctors believe stemmed from the June 12 race at Michigan.

While Jeff Gordon will make his fourth start in substitution for Earnhardt this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, no timetable has been given on when the 13-time most popular NASCAR driver will return to the track. In his Sprint Cup career, Earnhardt has missed six total races due to concussions.

In the meantime, Earnhardt has been transparent about how he is dealing with the concussion, from speaking on his Dale Jr. Download podcast, to holding a press conference at Watkins Glen International.

Now, Earnhardt has given the curious an inside look at his rehab process through social media. On Thursday, Earnhardt posted multiple pictures and videos to Instagram detailing some of the activities and tests he is undergoing regularly in order to help him prepare for his return to racing.

The activities range from doing basketball drills, to eye chart exercises and walking through a dark room lit by only disco ball-like lighting.

In each post, Earnhardt gives a brief explanation about the related exercise.

Daniel Suarez tops first Xfinity practice at Bristol Motor Speedway

The first of two scheduled Xfinity Series practices at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 300 was topped by Daniel Suarez, who finished the session with a best speed of 126.046 mph.

The session was cut short by about three minutes due to the threat of severe weather.

The top five was made up of Regan Smith (125.782), Austin Dillon (125.330), Brad Keselowski (125.020) and Kyle Busch (124.587).

Busch had the best 10-lap average speed at 124.005 mph.

Brenna Poole recorded the most laps in the session with 37.

Speed Chart

Former Daytona International Speedway president John Cooper dies

John R. Cooper, a former president of Daytona International Speedway, passed away Wednesday at 84, International Speedway Corporation announced.

Cooper served as president of Daytona from 1987 -1990. Previously, he had served as president and CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, beginning in 1979 and until he resigned in 1982.

Prior to that, Cooper was involved in the national sports programs for the Coca-Cola Company for two years.

Cooper also served as vice president of corporate development for ISC until July 1994 while also working on ISC’s Board of Directors from 1987 until April 2003, before being elected director emeritus.

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France released a statement on Cooper’s passing.

“On behalf of NASCAR and the entire France family, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the friends and family of John Cooper. John served in many motorsports roles throughout his life, including president of two of the most iconic race tracks in the world – Daytona International Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But beyond any of his exemplary career stops, there was one role that was personally even more important – dear friend. John was a cherished confidant of both my father and my grandfather. My family has relied on his counsel – both personally and professionally speaking – countless times. We are all saddened by his passing, and will miss John dearly.”

Statement from Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of ISC

“The impact that John Cooper had on the International Speedway Corporation, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR and the motorsports industry overall cannot be overstated. In addition to being a legendary voice of executive leadership, he also was a longtime friend and confidant to the France Family, starting with his close relationship to my grandfather Bill France Sr.

“John was one of only two people who have served as president at both Daytona International Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway – and that represents only a portion of his career and achievements.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with John’s family and friends. We have lost a cherished link to our industry’s past.”

Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough to drive Southern 500 pace car

NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough, a five-time winner at Darlington Raceway, will once again be at the front of a Sprint Cup field on Sept. 4.

That’s when Yarborough will be the honorary pace car driver for the Southern 500, leading the field of 40 cars prior to the green flag for the race at the South Carolina track.

A native of Timmonsville, South Carolina, about 20 minutes south of Darlington, the three-time Cup champion earned 83 Sprint Cup wins in his career. All five of his Darlington wins came in the Southern 500.

“This is quite an honor and I’m really looking forward to being the honorary pace car driver for the Bojangles’ Southern 500,” Yarborough said in a press. “The Southern 500 is the reason I got into racing. When I saw my first one, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Darlington is a tough, ol’ race track that can give you fits. When I was racing, I wanted to win the Southern 500 more than any other race. I still get goose bumps when I drive by the race track. I just may have to run a few laps and show those young folks how it’s done.”

Yarborough last competed in 1988 and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012.

Members of the 2017 class, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin and Richard Childress, are the grand marshals for the Sept. 4 race, which can been seen on NBC.