NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 is set
NASCAR Creative Design
In a topsy-turvy Saturday night showdown, four drivers were cut from championship eligibility in the first elimination of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Christopher Bell survived a 500-lap gauntlet with significant tire wear -- and a last-lap bump from Brad Keselowski -- to win Saturday's Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bell was among the dozen drivers advancing to the Playoffs' Round of 12, the next three-race portion of the 10-race postseason.
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The clock ran out on the title hopes of Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry. All four entered the Round of 16 below the provisional elimination line.
Berry was the first to be cut, stopping after 75 laps when flames from the right-front filled the cockpit of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. He ended the three Round of 16 races with three last-place finishes. Van Gisbergen spun twice, and he, Bowman and Dillon were unable to offset their points deficit on Bristol's high banks, while Austin Cindric held on for the final Round of 12 berth.
Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin had already advanced with victories earlier in the round; Briscoe won the playoff opener at Darlington Raceway and Hamlin prevailed at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
Three more drivers locked up their spots in the next round with mid-race clinchers at Bristol. Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace -- the top points-earners without wins after two Round of 16 races -- advanced at the end of Stage 1. Ryan Blaney sealed a Round of 12 berth after the second stage.
Below is the list of drivers for the Round of 12, with order based on the reset points.