Posted on by Staff Report

Four drivers were eliminated from title contention in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, resetting the standings board and setting the Round of 12.

WINNER

Chris Buescher used excellent speed and marvelous strategy to earn his first win of the season and first for newly formed RFK Racing, continuing the trend of non-playoff drivers dominating throughout the Round of 16. Buescher’s win is his first since Pocono Raceway in 2016 and resulted in trouble for drivers below the elimination line needing to win.

RELATED: Official results | Full playoff grid

ELIMINATED DRIVERS

Tyler Reddick, Richard Childress Racing
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing
Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing

ADVANCING TO THE ROUND OF 12
(Ordered by points at end of Bristol)

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, 2160 points
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, 2138 points
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, 2125 points
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, 2120 points
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, 2117 points
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing, 2116 points
Joey Logano, Team Penske, 2100 points
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, 2095 points
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, 2093 points
Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, 2081 points
Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse Racing, 2074 points
Austin Cindric, Team Penske, 2069 points

WHO’S HOT?

Christopher Bell. Bell has arguably been the best driver in the playoffs. Three top-five results in the opening three races have the No. 20 team looking like a title favorite. Still, Bell hasn’t been to Victory Lane since New Hampshire Motor Speedway this summer, but he has been extremely consistent at the front of the field. Based on his consistency, which has eluded many of the other playoff drivers so far, he is arguably one of the favorites to make it to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway in November.

Like Bell, Denny Hamlin has been a consistent threat to win races in nearly every race since Darlington Raceway. Two runner-up finishes in this round (Darlington and Kansas) and a ninth-place finish at Bristol have Hamlin focused and a serious contender to earn his first Cup Series championship. Hamlin and Bell have avoided the mishaps that have plagued their Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., so if that can continue, Hamlin is certainly on the path to contend at Phoenix, as well.

WHO’S NOT?

Daniel Suárez. Suárez has not been terrible and has flashed solid speed during the Round of 16, but suffered a bit from poor starting positions at Darlington and Bristol and a few miscues have him just a step below the other title contenders. An unfortunate wreck collected the No. 99 and a few others at Bristol and Suárez finished in 19th, six laps down. Heading to the Round of 12, these types of mistakes and efforts in qualifying could be the difference in the few points needed to advance to the next round. It is just a tight race to the top.

NEXT RACE

The Round of 12 opens on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. ET with the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway (USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

WHO IT FAVORS

Ryan Blaney. Blaney has not finished outside of the top eight at Texas since 2019, rallying for a sixth-place result a season ago in the playoff race. Not to mention he also won the All-Star Race this year, showcasing his prowess around the 1.5-mile oval. Though he has never won at the Fort Worth-based track — his best finish is runner-up in summer 2018 (also a playoff race) — his speed this season has been unquestionable. If Blaney is going to get to Victory Lane before the end of the season, next Sunday’s race will be one of his best opportunities down the final stretch.

WHO IT HURTS

Alex Bowman. In 12 regular-season starts at Texas, Bowman has a shocking average finish of 24.5. It may not tell the whole story, but it is a worrying trend as Bowman hopes to keep up his serious momentum gained in the Round of 16. Bowman does have a fifth-place result in the 2020 playoff race (his first with the No. 48 team), but it is sandwiched between two finishes outside the top 30 in his last three outings in Fort Worth.

Posted on by Brandon White

Eddie Partridge 256

Riverhead Raceway

Riverheadraceway

 

  • Race Results
Pos No. Name Sponsor Laps Diff
1 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communication Inc. 256
2 07 Patrick Emerling Captain Pip Marina & Hideaway 256 0.402
3 16 Ron Silk Blue Mountain Machine and Future Homes 256 1.987
4 7 Doug Coby Baldwin Automotive 256 4.083
5 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing 256 4.643
6 64 Austin Beers* Dell Electric/Lumiere Electrical 256 5.473
7 82 Craig Lutz Danny’s Cesspool Pool Service 256 6.059
8 66 Timmy Solomito Natural Designs/Highmark 256 8.174
9 15 Kyle Soper Eastport Foods 256 9.21
10 79 Jon McKennedy Middlesex Interiors 256 9.539
11 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Enterprises 256 10.183
12 54 Tommy Catalano FX Caprara 256 10.644
13 88 Roger Turbush Rheem 256 11.126
14 26 Ed Brunnhoelzl III Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electrict 256 11.836
15 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood Market & Restaurant 255 1 Lap
16 5 John Beatty, Jr. Elite Sound Studios 255 1 Lap
17 81 Chris Turbush* Mike Smith/Cromers Market 255 1 Lap
18 78 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. Last Minute Racing 250 6 Laps
19 96 Matthew Brode Peter Clark Motorsports 249 7 Laps
20 27 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape Supply 248 8 Laps
21 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance/MTT/Munn’s Auto 214 42 Laps
22 01 Melissa Fifield Pine Knoll Auto Sales 192 64 Laps
23 34 J.B. Fortin Red Camel Racing/Johns Fuel/John Tree Removal 85 171 Laps
24 70 Dylan Slepian* Eastport Feeds 85 171 Laps
25 3 Donny Lia Propane Plus/Huntington Honda 15 241 Laps
Posted on by Reid Spencer

BRISTOL, Tenn. – With Chase Elliott pursuing him relentlessly for the final 50 laps, Chris Buescher held on to win Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, becoming the 19th different NASCAR Cup Series winner this season.

After the event that set the field for the Round of 12 in the series playoffs — and eliminated superstars Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick from the postseason — a dozen drivers were breathing sighs of relief and hoping fervently for a return to stock-car sanity in the next round.

MORE: Busch blows engine | Harvick’s pit issue

A two-tire pit stop under caution on Lap 438 of 500 put Reddick in the lead for a restart on Lap 444. The driver of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford led the final 61 laps and a race-high 169 overall to give the RFK organization its first victory since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took the checkered flag at Daytona on July 1, 2017 at Daytona.

03 R12 Ncs Grid

RELATED: Official results | At-track photos

The victory was the first for RFK Racing since Brad Keselowski joined the organization as an owner/driver after the 2021 season.

Buescher was the third straight non-Playoff driver to win a race in the Round of 16, an unprecedented occurrence.

“It’s so special here,” said Buescher, whose only other Cup win came in a rain-shortened race at Pocono in 2016. “I love this race track. I love the fans. I love every time we come here. It’s so special. It’s pretty awesome.”

Buescher said he wasn’t worried about starting the final run on two fresh tires, even though everyone chasing had four.

“I wasn’t a bit,” he asserted. “It was up to me at that point. I made it work, and we had a really fast (car). We knew we had a really fast race car in practice and didn’t quite get the job done in qualifying (20th) — but what a race car.

“I don’t know what all to say right now. I’m out of breath. This place will wear you flat-out, and I love that about it. It’s just a special night.”

Elliott was .458 seconds behind Buescher at the finish. William Byron came home third, followed by Christopher Bell, who posted his third straight top-five finish in the Round of 16. Kyle Larson was fifth and Ross Chastain sixth, as all five drivers immediately behind Buescher in the finishing order advanced to the Round of 12.

Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suarez, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman also clinched spots in the next round, though all had serious issues during the race.

Elliott got closer to Buescher on the final two laps but ran out of time.

“I felt like we were gaining, but it was… I wasn’t close enough to do anything with him,” Elliott said. “But I appreciate the effort. We had a long day yesterday. Was able to battle back from a bad qualifying effort (23rd) to get a top two, so proud of that.

“Glad to be moving on (in the Playoff) and looking forward to some more opportunities here these coming weeks.”

Needing a victory to advance to the next round, Harvick ran consistently in the top five after staying out at the end of Stage 1 to gain track position. But Harvick’s chances evaporated in the pits on Lap 438 when his crew failed to secure the left-rear on his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

As the tire rolled away, Harvick had to back up into his pit stall. The lost time left him 10th for the final restart on Lap 444. That’s where he finished, exiting the Playoffs in 16th place.

“It was pretty tough,” Harvick said. “We pitted in front of the 17 (Buescher), so just kind of the way the year has gone. Just went from having a chance to lead the parade to being a part of the parade. Just difficult to pass.”

Busch’s ouster was a touch-and-go affair. Both he and Tyler Reddick fell two points short after Austin Cindric, who finished seven laps down in 20th place but gained enough positions by passing backmarkers to advance.

Busch had accumulated 14 points in the first two stages and was running above the elimination line when his engine blew on Lap 270—Busch’s second such failure in the three Playoff races.

“It just goes with our year,” Busch said. “I don’t even know what to say. I’m flabbergasted. I just feel so bad for my guys. They don’t deserve to be in this spot. They work too hard. We are too good of a group to be this low — down on the bottom, fighting for our lives just to make it through. Two engine failures in three weeks, that will do it to you.”

Reddick and Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon both failed to make the Round of 12 after both drivers’ Chevrolets were damaged in a 12-car pileup on the backstretch on Lap 277. Reddick finished 25th and Dillon 31st.

Keselowski led 109 laps and appeared to have race-winning chances until his right-front tire went flat on Lap 414 while he was leading.

“We had two cars that were really good today and one that was unlucky and one that executed, and everything came the right way for them,” Keselowski said.

The Round of 12 opens at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 25 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NOTE: Post-race technical inspection concluded without issue, confirming Buescher as the race winner. The Nos. 4, 20 and 24 cars will return to the NASCAR R&D Center for further teardown inspection.

Posted on by Staff Report

Trackhouse Racing driver Daniel Suárez appeared to get loose and spin during a restart just past the midway point of Saturday’s Bristol Night Race, an incident that sent his No. 99 Chevrolet down across the track and impacting multiple playoff drivers, including himself.

All told, 12 cars were involved at the close-quarters, high-banked half-mile that served as the host of the Round of 16 finale.

RELATED: Official results | At-track photos

Suárez, who entered the race six points above the playoff elimination line, lost a lap after the spin. That was a better fate than Richard Childress Racing teammates Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick, however.

Both the No. 3 and the No. 8 Chevrolets were behind Suárez and collected in the melee. Dillon’s team could not repair his car in the allotted 10-minute DVP window, leaving him out of the race and eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

Reddick, who immediately lost laps while having his car repaired on pit road, was able to continue in the race but his 2022 championship hopes come to an end. The No. 8 team finished 25th, 31 laps down and was two points shy of advancing to the Round of 12.

The second round of the Cup Series Playoffs begins at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 25 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on by Staff Report

Kyle Busch’s engine failed at Lap 269 at Bristol Motor Speedway, sending the No. 18 Toyota behind the wall and ultimately ending his chances to advance in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

MORE: Official results | At-track photos

Busch lost his motor after scoring 14 stage points in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, providing a little extra cushion. The Las Vegas native, the series’ only active multi-time champion, has faced adversity in each race in the Round of 16. While leading under caution at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 4, the engine expired on his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing entry. Last week at Kansas, Busch spun at the exit of Turn 4 and finished 26th.

Since NASCAR introduced the elimination-style playoffs in 2014, Busch had never failed to advance out of the Round of 16, with a worst points finish of 10th in 2014. Busch finished Saturday night’s race two points below the elimination line and will not be eligible to win the 2022 Cup Series title.

Posted on by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find USA Network | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App | Watch on USA Network | Get the NBC Sports App | Watch on Peacock | FloRacing | How to watch NASCAR International

Monday, Sept. 19
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m., NASCAR America Motormouths, Peacock

Tuesday, Sept. 20
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
11 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics: 2010 Aaron’s 499 (re-air), FS1

Wednesday, Sept. 21
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m., NASCAR America Motormouths, Peacock

Thursday, Sept. 22
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m., Dale Jr. Download, Peacock
10 p.m., Race for the Championship: Talladega Frights, USA Network

Friday, Sept. 23
1:01 a.m., Race for the Championship: Talladega Frights (re-air), USA Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Saturday, Sept. 24
9:30 a.m., Race for the Championship: Old School Versus New School (re-air), USA Network
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Auto Racing: Xfinity Series qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway, USA Network
Noon, Austin Dillon’s Life in the Fast Lane: Daddy Daycare (re-air), USA Network
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing: Cup Series qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway, USA Network
2:30 p.m.: Dale Jr. Download: Best of Dale Jr. Download, USA Network
3 p.m.: Countdown to Green: Texas, USA Network
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR Auto Racing: Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, USA Network
6:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Post-race Show: Texas, USA Network

On PRN:
3 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity race at Texas Motor Speedway

Sunday, Sept. 25
11 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Texas, FS1
12:30 p.m., Race for the Championship: Talladega Frights (re-air), USA Network
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing: Whelen Modified Tour (re-air), USA Network
2:30 p.m., Countdown to Green: Texas, USA Network
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing: Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway, USA Network
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show: Texas, USA Network

On PRN:
2:30, NASCAR Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway

MORE: How to watch NASCAR International

Posted on by Staff Report

Team Penske teammates Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney suffered flat right-front tires early in Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, causing serious concerns for their playoff hopes.

MORE: Unofficial results | At-track photos

Ultimately, the duo advanced to the Round of 12, escaping the opening round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. But their chances faced legitimate threats before the race had reached Lap 100 of 500.

Blaney suffered the heaviest damage after his tire went flat at Lap 92, sending the No. 12 Ford hard into the outside wall. The team attempted to fix the subsequent suspension damage — and lost a left-rear wheel following the crew’s first crack at fixing Blaney’s car — but their tries were to no avail. Blaney slowed to a relative crawl around the half-mile bullring and was forced to pit numerous times.

Blaney went behind the wall after meeting minimum speed and ended the night in 30th place, 162 laps down.

Just seven laps prior to Blaney’s issues, his rookie Team Penske teammate Cindric also suffered a flat right-front tire. The No. 2 Ford contacted the outside wall in Turn 2 but was able to continue after a green-flag pit stop. However, the Daytona 500 winner was left multiple laps down throughout the event.

As other drivers was ousted, Cindric clawed up the running order and eventually finished 20th, seven laps down. He claimed the final available spot in the Round of 12 by two points over both Tyler Reddick and Kyle Busch.

Posted on by Staff Report

Joey Logano took the green flag on his 500th career NASCAR Cup Series start Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Logano’s milestone became official once his No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang rolled off from the 15th starting position for Saturday’s Bristol Night Race (coverage on USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at The Last Great Colosseum.

RELATED: Joey Logano through the years | All of Logano’s Cup wins

Logano is making his ninth NASCAR Playoff appearance in the past 10 years, all of which have come with Penske. He’s earned 27 of his 29 Cup wins with the Ford-backed organization, winning the 2018 title following the only year during that stretch he missed the postseason.

The Connecticut native’s first start came at his fellow New England track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, when he piloted a No. 96 Toyota for owner Jeff Moorad to a 32nd-place finish. He also made his first start later that season for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 02 Toyota before hopping into the No. 20 Toyota full-time for the organization in 2009.

Logano earned his first win later that year at Loudon with crew chief Greg Zipadelli atop the pit box and raced for JGR until departing for Team Penske before the 2013 season.

In August 2022, Logano and Team Penske agreed on a long-term extension to remain in the No. 22 for the foreseeable future.

MORE: Logano signs long-term deal

Posted on by Brandon White

Eddie Partridge 256

Riverhead Raceway

Riverheadraceway

 

  • Qualifying Results
Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed
1 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communication Inc. 11.649 77.26
2 07 Patrick Emerling Captain Pip Marina & Hideaway 11.678 77.068
3 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing 11.702 76.91
4 7 Doug Coby Baldwin Automotive 11.721 76.785
5 15 Kyle Soper Eastport Foods 11.724 76.766
6 79 Jon McKennedy Middlesex Interiors 11.727 76.746
7 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance/MTT/Munn’s Auto 11.739 76.668
8 16 Ron Silk Blue Mountain Machine and Future Homes 11.743 76.641
9 66 Timmy Solomito Natural Designs/Highmark 11.748 76.609
10 34 J.B. Fortin Red Camel Racing/Johns Fuel/John Tree Removal 11.787 76.355
11 82 Craig Lutz Danny’s Cesspool Pool Service 11.823 76.123
12 5 John Beatty, Jr. Elite Sound Studios 11.824 76.116
13 54 Tommy Catalano FX Caprara 11.825 76.11
14 96 Matthew Brode Peter Clark Motorsports 11.842 76.001
15 3 Donny Lia Propane Plus/Huntington Honda 11.848 75.962
16 88 Roger Turbush Rheem 11.851 75.943
17 81 Chris Turbish* Mike Smith/Cromers Market 11.877 75.777
18 70 Dylan Slepian* Eastport Feeds 11.883 75.738
19 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood Market & Restaurant 11.91 75.567
20 64 Austin Beers* Dell Electric/Lumiere Electrical 11.929 75.446
21 26 Ed Brunnhoelzl III Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electrict 12.021 74.869
22 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Enterprises 12.111 74.313
23 27 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape Supply 12.542 71.759
24 01 Melissa Fifield Pine Knoll Auto Sales 12.792 70.356
25 78 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. Last Minute Racing 13.074 68.839
Posted on by Brandon White

Eddie Partridge 256

Riverhead Raceway

Riverheadraceway

 

  • Practice Results
Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed In Lap Laps Diff
1 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communication Inc. 11.603 77.566 10 44
2 7 Doug Coby Baldwin Automotive 11.612 77.506 9 44 0.009
3 07 Patrick Emerling Captain Pip Marina & Hideaway 11.621 77.446 29 47 0.018
4 15 Kyle Soper Eastport Foods 11.659 77.194 9 28 0.056
5 66 Timmy Solomito Natural Designs/Highmark 11.669 77.127 19 40 0.066
6 16 Ron Silk Blue Mountain Machine and Future Homes 11.695 76.956 57 65 0.092
7 34 J.B. Fortin Red Camel Racing/Johns Fuel/John Tree Removal 11.696 76.949 19 37 0.093
8 64 Austin Beers* Dell Electric/Lumiere Electrical 11.731 76.72 21 56 0.128
9 70 Dylan Slepian* Eastport Feeds 11.751 76.589 19 62 0.148
10 54 Tommy Catalano FX Caprara 11.759 76.537 40 56 0.156
11 96 Matthew Brode Peter Clark Motorsports 11.759 76.537 39 48 0.156
12 79 Jon McKennedy Middlesex Interiors 11.76 76.531 59 60 0.157
13 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing 11.76 76.531 9 57 0.157
14 82 Craig Lutz Danny’s Cesspool Pool Service 11.777 76.42 22 40 0.174
15 3 Donny Lia Propane Plus/Huntington Honda 11.781 76.394 22 61 0.178
16 88 Roger Turbush Rheem 11.791 76.329 21 48 0.188
17 5 John Beatty, Jr. Elite Sound Studios 11.829 76.084 18 54 0.226
18 81 Chris Turbush* Mike Smith/Cromers Market 11.836 76.039 11 49 0.233
19 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance/MTT/Munn’s Auto 11.837 76.033 46 46 0.234
20 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Enterprises 11.85 75.949 56 56 0.247
21 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood Market & Restaurant 11.864 75.86 10 49 0.261
22 26 Ed Brunnhoelzl III Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electrict 11.918 75.516 39 46 0.315
23 78 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. Last Minute Racing 12.196 73.795 29 41 0.593
24 27 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape Supply 12.548 71.725 18 41 0.945
25 01 Melissa Fifield Pine Knoll Auto Sales 12.549 71.719 39 41 0.946