The 2012 Food City 500 was the fourth stock car race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Ford took over the lead in the Manufacturers' Championship, and bumped Chevrolet to second place with 24 points.

The 2012 Food City 500 was the fourth of thirty-six scheduled stock car races of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

[8] Team owner Michael Waltrip said, "Brian Vickers is a veteran driver with almost 10 years experience, but he hasn't even turned 30 yet.

"[9] Before the race, Greg Biffle led the Drivers' Championship with 125 points, followed by Kevin Harvick on 113.

[5] During the first practice session, Carl Edwards was the fastest driver, placing ahead of A. J. Allmendinger in second and Marcos Ambrose in third.

Jeff Gordon, Regan Smith, Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch rounded out the top ten fastest drivers in the session.

The driver that failed to qualify was Timmy Hill, and Robby Gordon withdrew because of issues with his car's engine.

Aric Almirola, Hamlin, Kenseth and Jeff Burton followed in the top ten.

[5] Later that day, Newman paced the final practice session, ahead of Kyle Busch in second and Reutimann in third.

Clint Bowyer was seventh fastest, Truex eighth, Jeff Gordon ninth, and Johnson tenth.

[17] Towards the end of the session, Travis Kvapil hit the wall but avoided major damage to his car.

[5] The race began at 1:00 p.m. EST and was televised live in the United States on Fox.

Mike Rife of the Vansant Church of Christ began pre-race ceremonies by giving the invocation.

The McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base H4 Quartest performed the national anthem, and a group of Food City store managers gave the command for drivers to start their engines.

Ten laps later, Allmendinger passed Gordon to take the second position.

The first caution came out on lap 24 for a multi-car crash on the front stretch that collected Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Marcos Ambrose, Carl Edwards, and Kyle Busch.

On lap 235, Allmendinger made a pit stop to allow his team to check his car.

Thirteen laps later, Matt Kenseth passed Keselowski to claim the lead.

Ten laps later, the fifth and final caution waved when Tony Stewart made contact with the wall.

Kenseth finished second, ahead of Truex in third, Clint Bowyer in fourth, and Vickers in fifth,[19] rounding out the Top 5.

It’s not about being cocky.” Keselowski appeared in victory lane to celebrate his first win of the season in front of 102,000 people who attended the race.

The last few races have been really good, and I knew we had a shot at winning one if we closed the deal.

This just says a lot about everything that everybody at MWR has done over the off season – working hard, giving us good race cars.

Harvick, who finished eleventh, was second on 148, three ahead of Kenseth and nine in front of Truex Hamlin dropped to fifth with 137 points.

[24] In the Manufacturers' Championship, Ford took over the lead with 25 points, Chevrolet, who were bumped to second, were on 24.