Kaulig Racing: The No. 11 Shifts Gears Heading into the Food City 300 at Bristol
There’s a certain electricity that fills the air when the NASCAR circus rolls into Bristol, Tennessee. It’s more than just a race. It’s an event, and Kaulig Racing is ready. The air gets a bit crisper, the scent of tire smoke and high-octane fuel hangs heavy, and you can feel the history of the place seeping out of the concrete. This isn’t just another stop on the tour.
This is the “Last Great Colosseum,” a high-banked, half-mile pressure cooker where legends are born and championship hopes can go up in smoke in a heartbeat. This Friday night, under those iconic bright lights, the NASCAR Xfinity Series kicks off its playoffs with the Food City 300. For the drivers, the teams, and every single fan in the stands, this is where the real season begins.
The Kaulig Conundrum: A Revolving Door in the No. 11
One of the most talked-about stories heading into the playoffs revolves around the No. 11 Chevrolet from Kaulig Racing. It feels like a lifetime ago, but it was only back in July at Indianapolis that Josh Williams made his final start for the team. Since then, that car has seen more drivers than a New York City taxi. It’s been a wild ride, a testament to the sport’s turbulent nature.
Kaulig Racing has been playing a game of musical chairs, bringing in a diverse lineup to fill the seat. We saw a trio of Spire Motorsports Cup drivers give it a try, including Carson Hocevar at Iowa, Michael McDowell at Watkins Glen, and Justin Haley at Daytona. Then, they threw a curveball and gave Australian Supercars ace Will Brown his debut at Portland.
Most recently, at Gateway, a familiar face returned to the Kaulig fold: Daniel Hemric, who drove for the team in both Xfinity and Cup, strapped back in for a one-off. Now, as the playoffs loom, another new face gets his shot. And this one has the grassroots racing world buzzing.
“Butterbean” Steps onto the Big Stage
This weekend, the No. 11 Kaulig machine will be piloted by a driver making his much-anticipated Xfinity Series debut, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen. If you follow the late model scene, you know the name. The 27-year-old from Chesapeake, Virginia, has been tearing it up in the ARCA Menards Series, racking up an impressive six wins this season and leading the points.
His national series experience is limited to just a handful of Truck Series starts this year, but the kid can wheel a race car. This is the kind of opportunity that racers dream of. To get your first shot in the Xfinity Series, with a top-tier team like Kaulig Racing, during the playoff opener at Bristol?
That’s like a rookie quarterback getting his first NFL start in the Super Bowl. The pressure is immense, but so is the chance to prove you belong. Every eye in the garage will be watching to see how “Butterbean” handles the high banks and the high stakes.
More Than Just One Race: The Playoff Picture
While the driver shuffle at Kaulig is a fascinating subplot, the main event is the start of the championship battle. Twelve drivers have punched their ticket, but their work is far from over. The points have been reset, and the intensity has been dialed up to eleven. For drivers like Regular Season Champion Connor Zilisch, there’s a bit of a cushion.
But at Bristol, a 59-point lead can evaporate with one wrong move, one cut tire, one slight misjudgment that sends you into that unforgiving outside wall. For the drivers hovering around the cutline, this race is everything. Taylor Gray is hanging on by a thread, with Carson Kvapil tied right there with him.
Can Drivers Survive Bristol’s Unforgiving Nature?
Guys like Sheldon Creed, Harrison Burton, and Austin Hill are on the outside looking in, needing a heroic run to climb back into contention. For them, every lap is a fight for their championship lives. Bristol doesn’t care about your reputation, because it only rewards grit and demands respect. Friday night, we’ll see who has enough of both to make it through.
