LAVERGNE — Nashville Superspeedway is the longest concrete track on the NASCAR circuit and one of only three non-asphalt tracks.
Thus, the Gladeville facility is pretty unique.
“It’s in its own little category,” said Nick Sanchez, who will drive in tonight’s 6:30 p.m. Tennessee Lottery 250 Xfinity Series race after two previous races here in the Truck Series (winning the pole once). “This is the only mile-and-a-half (actually 1.33 mile) that’s concrete on our schedule. It acts like a mile-and-a-half in the sense that it races like a tri-oval. But the track progresses like a Bristol and a Dover (the other two concrete tracks in NASCAR) does.
“It’s a very unique track. It’s definitely the anomaly on the schedule for sure.”
Driving the No. 48 Chevrolet for the Scott Borchetta-owned Big Machine Racing, Sanchez was asked if driving here made him enjoy the diversity of tracks in the circuit.
“The concrete track offers the most variance as far as line and track progression,” said Sanchez, who will turn 24 June 10. “Every caution you pick up all the rubber and lay it all back down. You’re always chasing grip and finding clean racetrack. Concrete tracks are amazing to race on.
“I love it. It’s unlike anyplace we go to on the schedule. The shape, surface itself and the atmosphere at Nashville is an amazing place.”
Sanchez, Chris Buescher and Hendersonville-native Josh Berry were at Podium 1 Racing on Wednesday for the Guitars and Fast Cars Kickoff Party in which they competed with fans in race simulators.
Sanchez said simulators are good for new fans and those getting into the sport, though he himself doesn’t do it that much.
“It’s a great tool for a lot of drivers and a lot of people who haven’t raced in real life,” he said. “In the NASCAR world, we have manufacturer simulators and that’s a lot of learning. I would say more for the team and less for me. But going to some of these tracks, it’s still a great tool. It’s as good as you make it.”
Berry, who now drives the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing in the Cup Series (Cracker Barrel 400 at 6 p.m. Sunday), broke into NASCAR under Dale Earnhardt Jr. (JR Motorsports) while competing in a sim racing league.
As far as the real thing, Berry, who now lives in North Carolina, drove into Victory Lane for the first time in the Cup Series at Las Vegas. He also said NSS is truly unique.
“Nashville is kind of its own animal when it comes to intermediate,” said Berry, who qualified second for last year’s race. “At 1.3, it’s a little smaller, a little narrower for an intermediate track, from a mile-and-a-halt-type track. The concrete surface is obviously a lot different from the majority of those intermediates are. So it’s kind of it’s own animal.
“The race is going to be at night time this year. The last couple of years it’s been during the day, or at least it started during the day before the rain delay we had. All those things will make it a little bit different. But the biggest part is it’s put on good racing over the years. The track’s widened out. It’s laid rubber and made for good passing and hopefully we’ll have that Sunday.”
Buescher, who won series championships in Xfinity and ARCA a decade or so ago, drives the No. 17 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing.
“Having the resin treatment from top to bottom makes it unique to anywhere else we go,” said Buescher, whose best finish at NSS was fifth last year. “This race has been one of the hottest races I’ve ever taken part in from inside the car. Fortunately, this weekend looks beautiful. Obviously, night helps, but it’s cooler and it’ll be a lot more enjoyable for the fans who come out and it’ll be nicer in the car, too.
“It’s hard to compare this to many other places. To me, it’s going to lean toward the mile-and-a-half side. But also I feel like you have some Gateway similarites. Being concrete, you want to say Dover (one mile) and Bristol (.533 mile), but most of that just doesn’t carry over. (It’s) three very different styles of racetracks.”
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