The first elimination race of NASCAR’s playoffs is heating up, and a few of the sport’s biggest names are at risk of being knocked out of title contention. Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway is shaping up to be a critical moment, with a three-time Daytona 500 winner and two former Cup Series champions on the verge of elimination. These three racers are none other than some of NASCAR’s most recognized stars, competing in a playoff field of 16 drivers. Among those who didn’t make the cut were popular names like Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, and Bubba Wallace, which already thinned out the competition.
But even with that, this year’s playoff field feels less stacked than usual. And yet, despite the lowered competition, drivers like Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., and Harrison Burton are still sitting below the cutline heading into this crucial elimination race. By the end of Saturday night’s showdown, the bottom four drivers will be knocked out of the playoffs. This means every lap counts for those hoping to survive the cut and keep their championship dreams alive.
Denny Hamlin, who has claimed victory four times at Bristol, has a straightforward approach to this high-stakes race. His mindset is clear, and he’s not backing down.
“I’m coming here to win,” Hamlin said confidently on Friday. He explained that unless something dramatic changes mid-race, his plan is to stay aggressive from the start. For Hamlin, it’s all about offense. He believes that over the course of 500 laps at Bristol, everything will sort itself out, one way or another. He’s ready to accept the result, no matter what happens.
Meanwhile, Joey Logano is sitting comfortably as the only driver guaranteed a spot in the second round of the playoffs after his victory in the opener at Atlanta. This leaves 11 spots still up for grabs, with the drivers at the bottom facing the highest stakes. The pressure is immense, and each racer below the cutline knows they’ll have to put on their best performance if they want to stay in the race for the championship.
High Stakes at Bristol: Three Stars on the Brink of Elimination at Bristol’s Cutoff Race
