Posted September 16, 2022 by Dominic Aragon Uncategorized

Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick lead playoff drivers in Bristol wins

Four drivers will be chopped from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at the conclusion of the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

The paved Bristol Motor Speedway race is scheduled for Saturday night, Sept. 17. Of the 16 playoff drivers, five are previous winners on the asphalt surface.

Kyle Busch (8 wins)
Perhaps this generation’s Darrell Waltrip, in reference to Bristol wins, Busch has the most victories among active drivers at the Tennessee short track.

In 32 starts, Busch has amassed eight wins, 14 Top-5 finishes, 19 Top-10 finishes and 2,593 laps led.

Busch’s last win at Bristol came in the April 2019 race.

Kevin Harvick (3 wins)
Harvick enters the Bristol race anchoring the playoff drivers in points. Because he is 35 points away from the cutoff, Harvick is virtually in a must-win situation to stay playoff eligible.

In 41 races at the track, Harvick has posted three wins, 14 Top-5 finishes and 21 Top-10 finishes.

Harvick’s most recent victory came in the September 2020 race.

Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano (2 wins)
Hamlin has two wins, nine Top-5 finishes and 15 Top-10 finishes in 31 starts on the paved Bristol track. Hamlin’s two victories came in August 2012 and August 2019.

In 25 starts at the track, Logano has posted two wins, six Top-5 finishes and 10 Top-10 finishes. His two wins came in August 2014 and August 2015.

Kyle Larson (1 win)
Larson is the most recent winner on the paved Bristol track, taking the checkered flag in last year’s race.

In 13 starts, Larson has earned one victory, three Top-5 finishes and eight Top-10 finishes.

The rest of the playoff drivers (by rank in points)

Christopher Bell has made three starts at the track. His highest finish came in his first start, a ninth-place showing for Leavine Family Racing in May 2020.

William Byron has earned one Top-5 and two Top-10 finishes in seven starts. His highest finish came in last year’s race, when he finished third.

In 12 races, Ryan Blaney has finished inside the Top-5 twice and the Top-10 seven times. Leading 484 total laps, his highest finish has been fourth-place twice, including in last September’s race.

Despite never leading a lap at Bristol, Alex Bowman has earned two Top-5 finishes and three Top-10 finishes in 11 starts. His highest finish is fifth twice, including last year’s race.

DOVER, DELAWARE – MAY 02: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Pitbull Tour 2022 Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series DuraMAX Drydene 400 presented by RelaDyne at Dover Motor Speedway on May 02, 2022 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Chase Elliott has yet to close the deal at Bristol, posting three Top-5 finishes and five Top-10 finishes in 11 starts. With a high finish of third in August 2018, Elliott has led laps in each of the last six races.

Ross Chastain, in five starts, has never had a Top-10 finish at the paved Bristol track. His highest finish was 14th in last year’s race.

Photo by Chris Salazar/The Racing Experts

In nine starts, Daniel Suarez has posted two Top-10 finishes. His highest finish at the track is eighth-place on two occasions, both coming in the two races held in 2019.

Tyler Reddick, in three starts, has earned one Top-5 and one Top-10 finish. That lone Top-5 came in the May 2020 race, where then-Cup Series rookie Reddick finished fourth.

Austin Cindric is the only playoff driver without a Bristol Cup Series start at the paved Bristol surface.

Austin Dillon has raced 15 times at Bristol, earning one Top-5 finish and three Top-10 finishes. His highest finish was fourth in the August 2016 race.

In Chase Briscoe’s lone paved Bristol start, Briscoe completed all 500 laps and finished 13th in last year’s race.

OUTLOOK
The Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET. USA Network will have televised coverage while PRN will have the live radio call of the event.