Bristol Night Race

Cup Series Starting Lineup: Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway

Sarah Talker

It’s Bristol, baby! The night race at Bristol Motor Speedway is one of those dates you circle on the calendar the second the NASCAR schedule drops. There’s just something electric about this place. Maybe it’s the high banks, the concrete, or the sheer chaos of cramming 39 cars onto a half-mile bullring under the lights.

Whatever it is, it’s a spectacle, and the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol promises to deliver all the drama we can handle. This isn’t just another race. It’s an elimination event in the Round of 16 playoffs, and that means everything is on the line. The Starting Lineup for tonight is a testament to how unpredictable this sport can be.

Who’s Leading the Pack?

Leading the field to the green flag is none other than AJ Allmendinger in the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. Let’s be honest, not many folks had the ‘Dinger pegged for the pole at Bristol. But in a qualifying session that had everyone on the edge of their seats, he laid down a lap that was a mere three-thousandths of a second faster than Ryan Blaney.

Three-thousandths! You can’t even blink that fast. It was a stunning performance and a massive boost for the Kaulig Racing team. Allmendinger might not be in the playoff hunt, but you can bet he wants to play spoiler and park that Chevy in Victory Lane. Starting right alongside him at Bristol is Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford.

Blaney has been solid, but coming that close to the pole has to sting a little. Still, P2 is a prime spot to be in at Bristol. He’s got clean air and a great view of the mayhem that’s about to unfold behind him. He’s looking to lock himself into the next round of the playoffs, and a strong run tonight is exactly what he needs.

The High-Stakes World of the Playoffs

The real story tonight is the Bristol playoff bubble. This is where dreams are made and hearts are broken. For drivers like Josh Berry and Alex Bowman, the mission is simple: win. Anything less, and their championship aspirations are over. Berry is rolling off 10th in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, a respectable position that gives him a fighting chance to work his way to the front.

Bowman, however, has a more challenging road ahead, starting back in 15th in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. He’ll need a perfect race and probably a little bit of luck to get the victory he so desperately needs. Then you’ve got Austin Dillon and Shane van Gisbergen.

They aren’t in a must-win situation just yet, but they’re on the wrong side of the cutline. Dillon starts P23, and SVG is even further back in P28. They’ll be clawing and scratching for every single point, every position, trying to climb out of that hole. Every lap will feel like a lifetime for those two.

The Complete Bristol Starting Grid

The field is set, the stage is ready, and 500 laps of pure, unadulterated chaos await. Here is the full starting lineup that will take the green flag for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race:

Bass Pro Shops Night Race:

Starting Lineup: Cup Series

  • 1. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 2. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 3. Austin Cindric, No.2 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 4. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 6. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 7. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 8. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 9. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 10. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Wood Brothers’ Racing Ford)
  • 11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 12. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 13. Ross Chastain, No. 1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 14. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 15. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 16. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 17. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 18.  Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 19. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
  • 20. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 21. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
  • 22. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
  • 23. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 24. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
  • 25. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 26. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
  • 27. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
  • 28. Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 29. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 30. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
  • 31. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 32. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 33. Austin Hill, No. 33 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 34. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
  • 35. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 36. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
  • 37. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 38. Corey Heim, No. 67 (23XI Racing, Toyota)
  • 39. Chad Finchum, No. 66 (Garage 66, Ford)

What to Expect at the Last Great Coliseum

Bristol is a beast. At 500 laps, it’s a marathon of intensity. The track is a 0.533-mile concrete oval, and it demands everything from the drivers and their equipment. Tempers will flare, cars will get torn up, and the lead will likely change hands more times than you can count.

The stages are set for 125, 125, and 250 laps, which means there are crucial stage points up for grabs that could make or break a driver’s playoff run. Drivers will be fighting for the preferred groove, and there won’t be much room for error. A slight mistake can send you into the wall and end your night in a hurry. It’s a pressure cooker, and only the toughest will survive.

Keep an eye on guys like Kyle Larson, starting P5, and Denny Hamlin, starting P6. They know how to get it done at Bristol and will surely be contenders before the night is over. Tonight, under the lights of Bristol Motor Speedway, champions will be tested and contenders will emerge. The Starting Lineup is set, the engines are ready to roar, and the Last Great Colosseum is waiting for its next hero. Buckle up, race fans. It’s going to be one wild ride.

Sarah is a writer with a passion for delivering interesting yet informative news stories about motorsports including NASCAR, IMSA, F1, and IndyCar. She has covered the Daytona 500 and the Wurth 400 live and is highly passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise across the motorsports industry.

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