This week's race: Sharpie 500

SHARPIE 500

WHERE: .533-mile, 36-degree-banked oval at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.

WHEN: Television coverage starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, race starts at 7:30 p.m.

BROADCAST: Television TNT; Radio Performance Racing Network.

DISTANCE: 500 laps.

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Tony Stewart.

NOTES: Perhaps the most popular race on the circuit for the fans. Not only are all 154,000 permanent seats sold out, there's a waiting list for tickets that rivals other sporting events. ... What makes the race so popular is the 36-degree banking that allows for 120-mph speeds. Those speeds on a half-mile race track create a lot of bumping and grinding that often push cars and tempers past the boiling point.