For the first time in history, Bristol Motor Speedway will host a round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. And it’s not just any round, the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race on Saturday, September 19, will be the first round cut-off race in the Playoffs. That means 16 championship eligible drivers will start the race but only 12 will still be eligible once the checkered flag falls following 500 grueling laps under the lights on the iconic all-concrete high-banked short track.
We were able to catch up with the 16 Cup Series Playoff drivers earlier this year to get their initial thoughts on having The World’s Fastest Half-Mile as host to a round of the Playoffs. The consensus? Expect a wild night of beating and banging and an overload of thrilling racing action for the fans. As six-time BMS winner Kurt Busch says in the video, “Bristol Motor Speedway was already insane, and now as part of the Playoffs? This is going to be perfect.”
Please visit the BMS Website for ticket information on the Food City 300 and Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race. For those who aren’t able to attend, the races will air live on NBCSN and PRN Radio starting at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
Thursday night’s doubleheader without fans in attendance features the first round of the Playoffs for the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics. That race will be broadcast live on FS1 and MRN Radio starting at 7:30 p.m. The Thursday nightcap is the ARCA Menards Series Bush’s Beans 200, which is scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. with live television coverage on FS1.
