Full Breakdown
NASCAR Cup Series: Bristol Night Race Preview and Starting Lineup
9/13/2025, 4:30:50 AM
Key Event: Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway
The NASCAR Cup Series is set for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 13, 2025. This race marks the conclusion of the Round of 16 in the NASCAR playoffs, where four drivers will be eliminated from championship contention. The event is particularly significant as it is the first elimination race of the playoffs, with drivers Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry needing strong performances to advance.
Starting Grid and Qualifying Highlights
AJ Allmendinger secured the pole position for the race, achieving a lap time of 15.117 seconds (126.930 mph), marking his first pole in over a decade. Allmendinger, driving the No. 16 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing, edged out Ryan Blaney by just 0.003 seconds. This achievement is notable for both Allmendinger and his team, as it represents a significant milestone for a smaller racing organization. The complete starting lineup for the race is as follows:
1. AJ Allmendinger (No. 16 Chevrolet)
2. Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Ford)
3. Austin Cindric (No. 2 Ford)
4. Ty Gibbs (No. 54 Toyota)
5. Kyle Larson (No. 5 Chevrolet)
6. Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Toyota)
7. William Byron (No. 24 Chevrolet)
8. Bubba Wallace (No. 23 Toyota)
9. Christopher Bell (No. 20 Toyota)
10. Josh Berry (No. 21 Ford)
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 47 Chevrolet)
12. Carson Hocevar (No. 77 Chevrolet)
13. Ross Chastain (No. 1 Chevrolet)
14. Tyler Reddick (No. 45 Toyota)
15. Alex Bowman (No. 48 Chevrolet)
16. Chase Elliott (No. 9 Chevrolet)
17. Justin Haley (No. 7 Chevrolet)
18. Brad Keselowski (No. 6 Ford)
19. John Hunter Nemechek (No. 42 Toyota)
20. Ryan Preece (No. 60 Ford)
21. Chris Buescher (No. 17 Ford)
22. Joey Logano (No. 22 Ford)
23. Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet)
24. Zane Smith (No. 38 Ford)
25. Michael McDowell (No. 71 Chevrolet)
26. Cole Custer (No. 41 Ford)
27. Erik Jones (No. 43 Toyota)
28. Shane van Gisbergen (No. 88 Chevrolet)
29. Riley Herbst (No. 35 Toyota)
30. Noah Gragson (No. 4 Ford)
31. Chase Briscoe (No. 19 Toyota)
32. Kyle Busch (No. 8 Chevrolet)
33. Austin Hill (No. 33 Chevrolet)
34. Cody Ware (No. 51 Ford)
35. Daniel Suarez (No. 99 Chevrolet)
36. Todd Gilliland (No. 34 Ford)
37. Ty Dillon (No. 10 Chevrolet)
38. Corey Heim (No. 67 Toyota)
39. Chad Finchum (No. 66 Ford)
Playoff Implications and Driver Standings
The race will determine which drivers advance to the Round of 12. Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe have already secured their spots by winning previous races. In contrast, drivers like Austin Dillon, who is 11 points below the cut line, and Shane van Gisbergen, who is 15 points behind, face significant pressure to perform. Alex Bowman and Josh Berry are in must-win situations, as they are 35 and 45 points below the cut line, respectively.
Official Statements and Insights
AJ Allmendinger expressed his excitement about securing the pole, stating, “To get a pole at Bristol? That’s pretty awesome.” He emphasized the importance of such achievements for a smaller team like Kaulig Racing, highlighting that “little victories like this mean a lot to us.” Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, who has dominated at Bristol in recent races, aims for his third consecutive victory at the track, stating, “The night race just means more to me.”
What's Next: Race Coverage
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race will be broadcast live on USA Network, with pre-race coverage starting at 7:00 PM ET and the green flag expected around 7:30 PM ET. The race consists of 500 laps, divided into three stages of 125, 125, and 250 laps. As the drivers prepare for this critical playoff race, fans can anticipate intense competition and potential surprises at one of NASCAR's most storied venues.
