Nascar Cup

Bass Pro Shops Night Race: keys to qualifying at Bristol

Bristol race will determine the future of several contenders

Photos : Nascar Media
2024/09/18
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The Bass Pro Shops Night Race, which will take place on September 21, 2024, at Bristol Motor Speedway, is one of the most anticipated races of the season. This event will be crucial not only for the drivers competing in the playoffs of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series, but it could also be influenced by drivers no longer in contention for the championship. Additionally, the unique layout of Bristol makes it a track where historical performance and skill in short, technical races play a vital role.

image Bass Pro Shops Night Race: keys to qualifying in Bristol

The Bristol Motor Speedway Layout

Bristol Motor Speedway is known as one of the most challenging tracks on the NASCAR calendar. With a length of 0.533 miles (approximately 858 meters), it is one of the most iconic short ovals in the series. The banked turns range from 24 to 28 degrees, while the inclined straights range from 4 to 8 degrees, making this track fast, technical, and physically demanding for the drivers.

Races at Bristol are particularly interesting due to the high level of contact between cars and the need to maneuver through heavy traffic. This increases the likelihood of crashes and cautions, which can drastically change the outcome of a race. Furthermore, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race will be a test of endurance, as the event covers a distance of 500 laps (266.5 miles), pushing both drivers and their teams to the limit.

Historical Background at Bristol

Historically, Bristol has been a track where experienced drivers tend to shine. Over the years, Kyle Busch has been the dominant driver with 8 victories at this circuit. Other drivers with strong track records include Denny Hamlin (4 victories), Brad Keselowski (3 victories), and Kevin Harvick (3 victories), although Harvick is not participating in the playoffs this year.

Starting position at Bristol is particularly important. 58% of the races at this track have been won by drivers who started in the top five positions, highlighting the importance of qualifying and maintaining a good track position throughout the race.

Drivers on the Bubble and Needing a Win

Harrison Burton - Currently 20 points below the cutline. Needs to win to advance. Burton has little experience, and his performance at Bristol has not been competitive, with only 1 top 20 finish and an average finish of 25.3.
Martin Truex Jr. - Currently 14 points below the cutline. Needs to win to advance. Truex has struggled at this track, with an average finish of 20.2 and only 3 top 5 finishes in 34 races.
Brad Keselowski - Currently 12 points below the cutline. While he could advance with an exceptional result, he will likely need to win. Keselowski has 3 wins and a Driver Rating of 91.4, making him a serious contender.

Rank	Driver	Vehicle	Points	Race Wins	Stage Wins	Playoff Pts	+/- Cutoff
1	Joey Logano	22	2,084	2	2	12	In On Wins
2	Christopher Bell	20	2,089	3	10	32	46
3	Austin Cindric	2	2,086	1	3	8	43
4	Alex Bowman	48	2,084	1	0	5	41
5	Daniel Suarez	99	2,079	1	1	6	36
6	Tyler Reddick	45	2,073	2	3	28	30
7	Chase Elliott	9	2,073	1	1	14	30
8	Ryan Blaney	12	2,072	2	4	19	29
9	Kyle Larson	5	2,069	4	10	40	26
10	William Byron	24	2,068	3	1	22	25
11	Chase Briscoe	14	2,049	1	0	5	6
12	Ty Gibbs	54	2,049	0	2	4	6
13	Denny Hamlin	11	2,043	3	6	15	-6
14	Brad Keselowski	6	2,037	1	0	8	-12
15	Martin Truex Jr.	19	2,035	0	4	5	-14
16	Harrison Burton	21	2,029	1	0	5	-20

Drivers on the Bubble Who Could Advance with Good Results

Denny Hamlin - Currently 6 points below the cutline. Hamlin has been strong at Bristol, with 4 wins and an average finish of 13.6. A good result should be enough for him to advance.
Ty Gibbs - Currently 6 points above the cutline. Despite his lack of experience, Gibbs has shown competitiveness with 1 top 5 and 2 top 10s at Bristol. He can advance without needing to win.
Chase Briscoe - Currently 6 points above the cutline. Briscoe is in a delicate situation and needs a good result to stay in the playoffs. He has not recorded a top 10 at Bristol, putting him at risk.
William Byron - Currently 25 points above the cutline. Byron has a relatively comfortable advantage and, with consistent performance, should be able to advance without issues.
Kyle Larson - Currently 26 points above the cutline. Larson is one of the favorites at Bristol, with 1 win and a Driver Rating of 103.9. With his history, he should advance easily.

Drivers Outside the Playoffs Who Could Influence the Race

Although the focus is on the playoff drivers, several competitors who are out of the championship fight could still influence the race. Some of these drivers have strong records at Bristol and could become contenders for the win or play a key role in the race’s outcome.

Chris Buescher - Buescher won the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in 2022 and has proven to be a competitive driver on this type of track. Although he is not in the playoffs, he could surprise and complicate the advancement of some contenders.
Kyle Busch - Even though he is not in the playoffs this year, Busch is the most successful driver in recent Bristol history, with 8 victories. His experience and ability on this track make him a constant threat, and a win from him could eliminate drivers who depend on points to advance.
Erik Jones - Jones has proven to be competitive on short tracks like Bristol and could be in the mix during the race. Although he hasn’t won at this venue, his past performances suggest he could fight for a top 10.