NASCAR at Bristol 2015: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is hugely popular due in part to its eclectic mix of tracks, and there are few that pique the interest of racing fans quite as much as Bristol Motor Speedway.

Bristol is only a half-mile long, but it plays host to some of the lengthiest races in terms of laps at 500. There is no question that Thunder Valley is a test of wills and technique for every driver in the field, and that is what promises to make Sunday's Food City 500 so entertaining.

Although it is still early in the 2015 season, there is a feeling of desperation surrounding most drivers since a single victory will essentially assure their spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

With that in mind, here is everything you need to know in order to enjoy what figures to be an exciting and tightly contested race at Bristol.

Where: Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee

When: Sunday, April 19 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox

Starting Lineup

Drivers to Watch

Matt Kenseth

While Matt Kenseth hasn't won a Sprint Cup race since September 2013 at New Hampshire, the driver of the No. 20 car has a legitimate chance to end that uncharacteristically long drought Sunday at Bristol.

Not only has the 43-year-old star traditionally been better than most on the half-mile track, but he is also starting at the front of the field after taking the pole.

Kenseth is well aware that he and his team have to make some improvements in order to take the checkered flag, but he is certainly happy to be starting first, according to Jay Pennell of FoxSports.com:

I'm proud of our Dollar General guys, we weren't particularly great in race trim. In qualifying trim we had some pretty good speed. Glad we're starting from the pole. We've got some work tomorrow to get it ready for Sunday. There aren't a lot of great pit stalls here, and it's a good place to be in front here and hopefully stay up there and stay out of trouble.

Kenseth has three career wins at Bristol, and with an average finish of 12.2, he has had more consistent success at the track than anyone else in the field with at least 20 starts other than Greg Biffle.

Although Kenseth hasn't exactly come firing out of the gates this season, he is currently 12th in the standings and has three top-10 finishes to his credit. He is seemingly inching closer toward a win, and Bristol may be his best chance to get it.

He has a long season ahead of him, but winning at Bristol would take a ton of pressure off him moving forward.

Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski has the benefit of a victory under his belt entering the Food City 500, but that certainly won't stop him from going for the victory on Sunday. If anything, it will probably make the pilot of the No. 2 car even more aggressive.

Keselowski has an impressive ability to excel on tracks of all different lengths, and that includes Bristol. He has two wins and four top-five finishes in just 10 career Sprint Cup starts at the Bull Ring, which speaks to just how quickly he has gotten himself acclimated to the track.

Starting near the front of the field can definitely be an advantage at Bristol due to how short the track is, and Keselowski has put himself in great position in that regard:

The current Chase system isn't without some flaws, but one thing it does extremely well is prevent drivers from becoming complacent. That has never been an issue for Keselowski, but his all-or-nothing attitude can be taken to another level with a win already to his credit.

He doesn't have to worry about registering a poor finish and negatively impacting his Chase chances, so look for Keselowski to give it everything he has in pursuit of a victory Sunday.

Kyle Larson

The sample size is extremely small, but young gun Kyle Larson has already shown an affinity for Bristol Motor Speedway, and that could potentially lead to his first career Sprint Cup win Sunday.

The 22-year-old star has an average finish of 11th at Bristol in two races, including going all the way from the 40th starting position to 12th in last year's summer race, which is no small feat. Larson is in a much better spot this time around as the No. 42 car will take the green flag from the 14th spot.

While 14th isn't a bad starting position by any means, Larson's car may actually be much better than that. According to Rotoworld NASCAR, Larson had the second-best car during Friday's practice run:

Practice is obviously much different than an in-race situation, but Larson has proved to possess the demeanor and skills needed to thrive at Bristol.

It is only a matter of time before Larson breaks through with a win, and while it may not happen Sunday, it is tough to imagine him not at least being in the mix.

Larson is hungry for a win, and it will be interesting to see how aggressive he is if he's in position to nab one in the Food City 500.

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