Drivers hope traffic problems are resolved

SPARTA, KY - Drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series didn't have to maneuver through the stalled traffic last year at the Kentucky Speedway.  But they know about it and they hope that the problem has been solved.

Jimmie Johnson said at a Friday morning news conference "I don't know what's changed, but I really hope that it has because there is a huge black eye here with the race fans. We can't give them two black eyes, we already gave them one."

Johnson and other drivers were on the track late Friday morning for practice. They'll do two laps of qualifying Friday afternoon.

Johnson noted that NASCAR and Kentucky Speedway had a chance to make things right after last year's problems. "From things I've read, Bruton Smith has worked on the things at the track that were his responsibility."

Clint Bowyer who won last Sunday's race at Sonoma noted how important it is to have success at Sparta. "The fan base is one of the biggest we go to. It's a huge market for us to be in."

Bowyer was also hopeful that problems have been addressed.

We won't know until Saturday evening.