All that was missing from Bristol last weekend was Russell Crowe on Colossus, hovering over the track asking, “are you not entertained?”

If it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder, we should have quite a show at Bristol this weekend.  After all, it’s been a year since we saw a traditional beating, banging and “moving him up the track” race at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile.

A thrilling end of the Cup regular season; battles at the top and bottom of the playoff standings.  A Cup playoff opener that has turned the playoff standings on its collective ear. A three-wide Xfinity finish at Daytona and a battle for the regular season title there with two races still to go.