The Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway: A Decisive Finale for the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 16
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 21st, brought the curtain down on the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs’ round of 16. As the third and final race of this playoff stage, the pressure was at its peak for drivers aiming to secure a spot in the next round. When the checkered flag waved, four drivers left Bristol with their championship dreams dashed, their hopes for the 2024 Cup Series title ending in disappointment.
With just 12 spots available for the next round, some drivers put in impressive performances, using the Bristol race as a launchpad for their playoff momentum. Others struggled but managed to scrape through, advancing to the next round despite facing challenges on the track. For four drivers, however, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race marked the end of their 2024 championship journey.
The Four Drivers Who Missed the Cut for the Round of 12
Martin Truex Jr.
In what was supposed to be a farewell season filled with memorable moments, Martin Truex Jr. saw his full-time NASCAR Cup Series career take an unexpected turn at Bristol. Unfortunately for Truex, his final playoff campaign came to an abrupt end as he failed to advance past the round of 16. Truex finished 24th in Saturday night’s race, a disappointing result that sealed his fate.
Throughout the night, Truex had shown signs of being competitive, starting strong with a fourth-place finish in stage one and a second-place finish in stage two, earning him 16 crucial points. But disaster struck during his last pit stop when he was hit with a speeding penalty, forcing him to the back of the field. Despite running consistently in the top five earlier in the race, the penalty erased his chances of advancing to the next round. Truex couldn’t recover and found himself out of championship contention, a heartbreaking outcome for a driver looking to end his career on a high note.
Ty Gibbs
Despite coming into Bristol six points above the cutline, Ty Gibbs was unable to punch his ticket to the round of 12 after finishing in 15th place. Gibbs, the 2022 Xfinity Series champion and grandson of Joe Gibbs, team owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, had high hopes of making it through to the next stage of the playoffs. He started the race strong, finishing eighth in the first stage, but a critical pit road speeding penalty set him back, dropping him to the rear of the field.
Gibbs fought hard to make up lost ground, and for a while, it looked like he might pull off a comeback. He steadily climbed through the field, showcasing his driving skill and determination, but in the end, he didn’t gain enough positions to move on to the next round. Gibbs’ run at Bristol demonstrated his potential, but the setback on pit road ultimately cost him a spot in the round of 12.
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski, a three-time winner at Bristol, faced a tough night on Saturday as he finished 26th and failed to advance in the playoffs. Keselowski, a former NASCAR Cup Series champion, started the race from the 23rd position and never managed to find the speed necessary to compete with the frontrunners.
From the moment the race began, it was clear Keselowski was struggling to keep pace. He entered the race below the cutline and needed a strong performance to keep his championship hopes alive, but instead, he found himself battling through traffic and falling further behind. By the time the race ended, Keselowski was three laps down from the race winner, Kyle Larson, and with that, his playoff run came to an unfortunate close.
Harrison Burton
For Harrison Burton, the path to advancing to the round of 12 was simple: win at Bristol, and you move on. However, that dream was quickly crushed as Burton’s night went from bad to worse. The 23-year-old driver struggled throughout the race and eventually finished in 35th place, ending his hopes of advancing to the next playoff round.
Midway through the race, Burton encountered power steering issues, which forced him to take his car to the garage. Despite his team’s best efforts, the problem couldn’t be resolved quickly enough, leaving Burton 78 laps down from the leader by the time he returned to the track. With his night effectively over, Burton’s hopes of making it to the round of 12 disappeared in a cloud of frustration.
Looking Ahead: The Round of 12
With the elimination of these four drivers, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs move on to the round of 12, where the remaining contenders will continue their fight for the championship. The next round kicks off next Sunday at Kansas Speedway, followed by the always unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway. The round will conclude with the cut-off race at the Charlotte Roval, where the field will narrow once again, setting the stage for the round of 8.
The intensity of the playoffs only continues to rise as the championship battle tightens. While Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski, and Harrison Burton won’t be moving forward, the remaining drivers will be giving everything they’ve got in their quest for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series title. With so much at stake, fans can expect more drama, thrilling finishes, and moments that will define this year’s playoffs.
