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NASCAR will add resin to lower groove in corners to enhance Bristol Sprint Cup race

NASCAR XFINITY Series Food City 300

BRISTOL, TN - AUGUST 19: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 ENEOS Chevrolet, leads Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Resers Main Street Bistro Toyota, and Austin Dillon, driver of the #2 Rheem Chevrolet, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 19, 2016 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

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NASCAR announced late Friday night that it will add 18 inches of resin to the lower groove in each of the four corners to enhance Saturday night’s Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The substance is intended to give the lower line additional grip to make that groove as competitive as the top groove.

“It was a collaboration between the track, (NASCAR) and the industry,’' said NASCAR spokesman Kurt Culbert of the decision. "(The resin) seemed to work really well.’'

While the lower groove was used throughout Friday night’s Xfinity race, the preferred groove was the high line. Still, drivers could run on the lower groove and not lose as much time as previously.

The track’s lower groove in the corners was treated before this week. Resin was added after Wednesday night’s Camping World Truck Series race.

After Friday’s Xfinity race, winner Austin Dillon and Brad Keselowski both said they would like the track to work on the lower groove before Saturday’s race.

“The whole point was to work on the bottom groove and make it so this isn’t a track (where) you run up on top,’' Keselowski said. “There was a lot of work to make that happen and it didn’t stick with running four series here over the weekend. It’s just a question on NASCAR, whether they want to let the track work on it and get it back.’'

Said Dillon: “I personally hope that Bristol adds a little bit of that grip on the bottom. I think it will make the race more interesting longer. What’s positive is having two lines to race on. You need to give that bottom more of an advantage and let the top (groove) come in because we all know it’s going to as the tire falls off.’'

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