Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race
Bristol Motor Speedway
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race #24 of 36
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:46pm/et
Laps/Stages: 500 laps total. Stages end on laps: 125/250/500
Average time of race: 3:03:26
Minimum speed: 15% 17.13
Fuel window: Approximately 152 laps
Average # caution flags: 9
Pit road speed: 30 mph
TELEVISION / RADIO / STREAMING
Television Coverage: Time 2:00pm/et, NBCSN and streamed at NBC Sports Live (available with participating TV provider login)
Radio Coverage (over the air and streaming): Performance Racing Network (PRN) / SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR (available with subscription)
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
On track schedule
Practices:
Friday, August 16, 11:05-11:55am/et, TV-NBCSN;
Friday, August 16, 1:05-1:55pm/et, TV-NBCSN.
Qualifying: Friday, August 16 at 5:35pm/et, TV-NBCSN.
Complete Event Schedule (times local to the track)
Friday, August 16
6:00 AM-8:00 AM MENCS HAULERS ENTER (EQUIPMENT UNLOAD)
8:00 AM-7:00 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
9:30 AM MENCS ROOKIE MEETING & RANDOM DRAWING
11:05 AM-11:55 AM MENCS 1ST PRACTICE
1:05 PM-1:55 PM MENCS FINAL PRACTICE
5:45 PM MENCS QUALIFYING IMPOUND (SINGLE VEHICLE / TWO LAPS ALL POSITIONS)
6:45 PM MENCS CARS IN HAULERS
Saturday, August 17
2:00 PM MENCS GARAGE OPENS
5:30 PM MENCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING (SOUTH BUILDING)
7:00 PM MENCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
7:30 PM MENCS RACE (STAGES 125/250/500 LAPS = 266.5 MILES )
MENCS = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Links to race, practice, qualifying results (in pdf): (will be added as available)
Penalty Report
Contingency Awards Report
Race Results
Drivers Points
Owners Points
Cumlative Race Report
Penalty Report
Pitstalls
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Order
Practice 2 Speeds
Practice 1 Speeds
Crew Rosters
Latest / Final Entry List
Preliminary Entry List
RACE RUNDOWN….News & Links
Denny Hamlin wins at Bristol, denies Matt DiBenedetto a statement victory: The first thing Denny Hamlin did after winning Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night race at Bristol Motor Speedway was apologize to the man he beat to the finish line in the 24th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season. With 11 laps left in the grueling 500-lap event, Hamlin drove to the inside of Matt DiBenedetto and cleared him from the lead. Roughly three minutes later, Hamlin crossed the stripe .502 seconds ahead of the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota and handed DiBendetto his second major heartache of a difficult week. “I just want to say sorry to Matt DiBenedetto and (his crew chief) Mike Wheeler,” said Hamlin, who won for the fourth time this season, the second time at Bristol and the 35th time in his career. “I hate it. I know a w would mean a lot to that team, but I’ve got to give 110 percent to my whole team. Just sorry.”[More](8-17-2019)
#11-Denny Hamlin won the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The win is his 4th win of 2019, 2nd win at Bristol and 35th career win.
Hamlin started from the pole, fell off the lead lap for a while, got the free pass midway through the race, and battled back to the front over the final 100 laps. He passed DiBenedetto for the lead with 11 laps remaining.
#95-Matt DiBenedetto held on to finish 2nd, his career best finish, and the best ever finish for Leavine Family Racing. He led 93 laps on the night and was followed to the checkered flag by #2-Keselowski, #18-Busch, #9-Elliott, #42-Larson, #14-Bowyer, #41-Suarez, #1-Busch, and #12-Blaney
Stage 1 was won by #42-Larson. Stage 2 was won by #1-Busch.
There were 23 lead changes among 10 drivers and 8 cautions for 61 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 94.531mph.
See race details at:
Race Results (pdf)
Drivers Points Standings
Owners Points Standings
Cumulative Report
Penalty Report
Race Fast Facts – Bristol
Denny Hamlin won the 59th Annual Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, his 35th victory in 494 Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2019.
This is his second victory and 14th top-10 finish in 28 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Matt DiBenedetto (second) posted his second top-10 finish in ten races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2019.
Brad Keselowski (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 20 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Daniel Hemric (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kyle Busch leads the point standings by 39 points over Joey Logano.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(8-17-2019)
2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Standings after Bristol:
2 races until the playoffs begin
1) #18-Kyle Busch [4 wins] 932 pts (points leader)
2) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins]
3) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [4 wins]
4) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins]
5) #22-Joey Logano [2 wins]
6) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins]
7) #9-Chase Elliott [2 win]
8) #1-Kurt Busch [1 win]
9) #88-Alex Bowman [1 win]
10) #12-Ryan Blaney, 686, +97 points in the playoffs
11) #42-Kyle Larson, 665, +76
12) #24-William Byron, 664, +75
13) #10-Aric Almirola, 654, +65
14) #20-Erik Jones, 646, +57
15) #6-Ryan Newman, 603, +14
16) #41-Daniel Suarez, 591, +2
currently outside the playoffs:
17) #14-Clint Bowyer, 589, -2 points out of the playoffs
18) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 565, -26
19) #21-Paul Menard, 520, -71
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
To the rear: #54-Yeley (unapproved adjustments), #77-Sorenson (unapproved adjustments)
Playoff clinch scenarios: The easiest way to clinch is to win this weekend’s Bristol Night Race, but if that’s not possible, then here are the drivers who have a chance to clinch on points when all the beating and banging is done:
A repeat winner from this season at Bristol and being 111 points ahead of 15th place on the playoff grid would clinch a spot for Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, William Byron and Kyle Larson. Some more detail on the scenarios:
— Ryan Blaney: Has already clinched a top-30 spot. With a win, he would clinch a playoff spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a repeat winner (or a win by Aric Almirola, William Byron, Kyle Larson or Erik Jones) and help.
— Aric Almirola: Has already clinched a top-30 spot. With a win, he would clinch a playoff spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a repeat winner (or a win by Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Kyle Larson or Erik Jones) and help.
— William Byron: Has already clinched a top-30 spot. With a win, he would clinch a playoff spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a repeat winner (or a win by Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, Kyle Larson or Erik Jones) and help.
— Kyle Larson: Has already clinched a top-30 spot. With a win, he would clinch a playoff spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a repeat winner (or a win by Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, William Byron or Erik Jones) and help.
— NASCAR.com—
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole winner #11-Hamlin chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #42-Larson took the 23rd stall, the last stall on the backstretch.
#19-Truex, Jr., starts 3rd and chose the 19th stall, the final stall in use on the frontstretch.
The final pit stall on the backstretch was taken by #9-Elliott. He starts 6th.
See all pit choices on Pit Stall chart.(8-16-2019)
Bristol Inspection: Cars will be impounded after qualifying on Friday and inspected Saturday when the garage opens. The starting lineup will be unofficial until inspection is complete. Cars that do not pass on the first attempt will have their qualifying times disallowed. For info on inspection penalties, see the At-track inspection penalty protocol page (enhanced event schedule).
QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
Denny Hamlin knocks Kyle Larson off pole for Bristol Night Race: Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson played a late game of King of the Mountain in Friday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series time trials at Bristol Motor Speedway. After 38 drivers made qualifying runs, it was Hamlin who was left at the top of the peak. Larson was the 34th driver to take to the track, and his impressive lap at 129.004 mph (14.874 seconds) put him on the provisional pole for Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race. Larson’s stay on the pinnacle, however, lasted less than a minute, as Hamlin followed with a lap at 129.330 mph (14.848 seconds) to secure his first Busch Pole Award of the season, his fourth at the .533-mile high-banked concrete short track and the 31st of his career.[More](8-16-2019)
#11-Denny Hamlin won the Busch pole for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway with speed of 129.230mph for his 1st pole of 2019, 4th at Bristol and 31st of his career.
#42-Larson will start 2nd followed by #19-Truex, Jr., #1-Busch, #10-Almirola, #9-Elliott, #95-DiBenedetto, #4-Harvick, #20-Jones, and #88-Bowman.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 39 were entered for 40 spots
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(8-16-2019)
Bristol Motor Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Denny Hamlin won the Pole Award for the 59th Annual Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race with a lap of 14.848 seconds, 129.230 mph.
This is his 31st pole in 494 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and 17th top-10 start in 2019.
This is his fourth pole in 28 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his 10th top-10 start of 2019 and his fifth in 12 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Martin Truex Jr. (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his 11th in 24 races this season.
Daniel Hemric (17th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(8-16-2019)
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is over, the top five, slowest and notes:
#95-DiBenedetto 128.848
#12-Blaney 128.245
#10-Almirola 128.228
#9-Elliott 128.219
#88-Bowman 128.168
Slowest: #52-Weatherman 120.824 & #77-Sorenson 119.925mph.
Most laps run: #22-Logano, 116 laps.
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 32 drivers): #12-Blaney 125.660mph.
Notes: Chase Briscoe practiced the #38 for Matt Tifft. Tifft had symptoms of vertigo after the opening practice and was evaluated an the infield medical center. Practice was extended by a several minutes after #12-Blaney put down fluid on the track after a power steering pump issue.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf).(8-16-2019)
UPDATE: All cars passed inspection Saturday afternoon. No drivers had qualifying times disallowed. The starting lineup is official.(8-17-2019)
First practice for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#11-Hamlin 128.606
#20-Jones 128.151
#22-Logano 127.852
#95-DiBenedetto 127.648
#18-Busch 127.597
Slowest: #51-McLeod 120.760 & #77-Sorenson 119.910 mph. No speed #52-Weatherman.
Most laps run: #10-Almirola, 79 laps.
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 25 drivers): #22-Logano 126.742mph.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the First Practice speeds (pdf).(8-16-2019)
Entry List for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted, 39 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Chastain, #27-Houff, #51-McLeod, #52-Weatherman, #53-Bilicki, #54-Yeley, #77-Sorenson.
Since 39 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf).
RACE AND TRACK NEWS AND LINKS
Weekend Preview: Bristol Motor Speedway
NASCAR National Series News & Notes – Bristol Motor Speedway
Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race
April 2019: see the Bristol Race Info page
August 2018: see the Bristol Race Info page
Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshals: Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops; Richard Childress; Bill Dance; Becky Humphries, National Wild Turkey Foundation; Nick Wiley, Ducks Unlimited; R. Joseph Hamilton, QDMA; John Eastman, QDMA.
Command to start engines: Morris, Childress, Dance, Wiley, Hamilton, Eastman
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: TBA
Honorary Pace Car Driver: TBA
Color Guard: TBA
Invocation: Ronda Paulson, Founder and Executive Director of Isaiah 177 House
National Anthem: MRO Kids
Flyover: 4 unidentified planes
WEATHER
Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
WeatherBug
Weather Underground
Brian Neudorff @NASCAR_WXMAN
Aaron Studwell @RaceWeather
TIRE NOTES & FACTS