Bristol Night Race Sees Four Drivers Eliminated from NASCAR Playoffs

Bristol, Tennessee, September 16, 2025

News Summary

The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs experienced a major shift at the Bristol Motor Speedway, with Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, and Josh Berry being eliminated from the competition. Christopher Bell won the race, marking his fourth cup victory this season. As the playoffs narrow down to 12 competitors, concerns rise for those still at risk during upcoming rounds. The next Round of 12 will kick off at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21st, where drivers aim to solidify their championship positions.

Bristol, Tennessee – The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have seen a significant shake-up following the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, where four drivers were eliminated from contention. Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, and Josh Berry have failed to advance to the next round, which starts on September 21st at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This event marks a crucial turn in the playoffs as the field narrows down to 12 competitors.

Prior to the race, both Bowman and Berry entered the event in must-win situations. Bowman, who needed to overcome a 35-point deficit, faced early challenges and could not secure a position to advance. Berry, similarly positioned 45 points behind, was forced to retire after 75 laps due to a fire in the right front wheel well. Van Gisbergen began the night in a more favorable position with a 16-point cushion above the cutline but ultimately finished the race in 18th place, sealing his fate. Dillon, who finished 11 points below the cutline, will also not be continuing in the playoffs.

The race dropped several playoff contenders early on, with multiple drivers already laps down by the 35-lap mark. Despite the difficulties faced by playoff drivers, the race concluded with Christopher Bell taking the victory, marking his first Cup win at Bristol and adding to his fourth win of the season. This success underlines the dominance of Joe Gibbs Racing, as team members Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin also had victories earlier in the playoff round.

Key playoff implications from the race highlight that no driver has won the Round of 16 finale from below the cutline during the stage era. Following the Bristol race, an updated playoff standings list emerged, showing the following leaders: Denny Hamlin with 3,034 points, followed closely by William Byron and Kyle Larson at 3,032 points each, and Christopher Bell at 3,028 points. The precarious situation for drivers Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott raises concerns, as they remain at risk if caught in an early race crash in upcoming rounds.

The format of the Bristol race consisted of 500 laps divided into three stages—125 laps each for the first two stages and a final 250-lap stage. A.J. Allmendinger and Ryan Blaney shared the front row at the race start. As the competition played out, Ryan Blaney clinched the first stage win while Ty Gibbs secured the second stage. However, it is noteworthy that no playoff driver finished within the top ten in the initial stage, illustrating the challenges faced by the competitors.

The race results will set the stage for the next round, as the drivers prepare for New Hampshire, where the Round of 12 will commence. This next race promises to be critical for playoff drivers as they seek to secure their positions for the championship chase.

Playoff Standings After the Bristol Night Race

• 1. Denny Hamlin – 3,034 points
• 2. William Byron – 3,032 points
• 3. Kyle Larson – 3,032 points
• 4. Christopher Bell – 3,028 points
• 5. Ryan Blaney – 3,027 points
• 6. Chase Briscoe – 3,018 points
• 7. Chase Elliott – 3,013 points
• 8. Bubba Wallace – 3,009 points
• 9. Austin Cindric – 3,008 points
• 10. Joey Logano – 3,007 points
• 11. Ross Chastain – 3,007 points
• 12. Tyler Reddick – 3,006 points

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Additional Resources

• NASCAR Official Website
• Wikipedia: NASCAR Cup Series
• Hendrick Motorsports
• Google Search: NASCAR Bristol Results 2025
• NBC Sports
• Google Scholar: NASCAR Playoffs Strategy
• Beyond the Flag
• Encyclopedia Britannica: NASCAR Bristol
• AP News
• Google News: NASCAR Bristol 2025 Results

Author: STAFF HERE BRISTOL WRITTER

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