Dale Earnhardt Jr: Bristol is the “Ultimate Playground”

The Cup series goes under the lights Saturday night at Bristol.

FOX’s Matt Napolitano previews this weekend’s big races in this “FOX in the Fast Lane”:

With three races to go before the start of the Cup playoffs, the Monster Energy Series hits the short track at Bristol Motor Speedway for this season’s bass pro shops NRA night race.

Though Dale Earnhardt Jr. has only once twice in his career at Thunder Valley. The night race at Bristol has a special meaning to him dating back to his childhood:

(Earnhardt Jr.) “As a 12 to 15-year-old kid, this place was just the ultimate playground and we enjoyed coming here.”

Jr. sits in 22nd in the Monster Energy Cup standings, but his first win of 2017 could elevate him into a playoff spot.

Multiple drivers are hoping for that opportunity to strike Saturday night at Bristol, like Erik Jones:

(Jones) “We got three more shots at it before the Chase, so hopefully we can do it.”

Jones will have his crew chief Chris Gayle back atop the pit box after his two race suspension. This as Joe Gibbs Racing has transferred management responsibility for Jones and Martin Truex Jr’s pit crews to furniture row racing.

However, JGR will still be responsible for training those crew members.

FOX in the Fast Lane, I’m Matt Napolitano, FOX News.