Kyle Larson wins wild NASCAR Cup elimination race at Bristol: Kyle Larson celebrated victory in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race with a burnout on the frontstretch at Bristol Motor Speedway, as tempers flared between Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott on pit road. With an assist from Elliott, who took Harvick’s line at the .533-mile concrete track and slowed his progress, Larson made the winning pass on Lap 397 of 400 and sealed his sixth NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season.[Read More](9-18-2021)
#5-Kyle Larson won the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The win is his XX6th win of the year, 1st win at Bristol and 12th career win.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd followed by #24-Byron, #12-Blaney, #48-Bowman, #2-Keselowski, pole sitter #19-Truex, Jr., #43-Jones, #11-Hamlin, and #21-DiBenedtto.
Larson took the lead from Harvick with 3 laps remaining. Harvick got the lead from #9-Elliott with 35 laps to go when the two made contact. Elliott had a tire go down and had to pit. He finished 25th. Harvick and Elliott argued with each other on pit road after the conclusion of the race.
Drivers advancing to the Round of 12 in the Playoffs: #2-Keselowski, #4-Harvick, #5-Larson, #9-Elliott, #11-Hamlin, #12-Blaney, #18-Busch, #19-Truex, Jr., #20-Bell, #22-Logano, #24-Byron and #48-Bowman.
Drivers eliminated from the Playoffs: #1-Busch, #8-Reddick, #10-Almirola, and #34-McDowell.
Stage 1 was won by #11-Hamlin. Stage 2 was won by #5-Larson.
There were 23 lead changes among 7 drivers and 8 cautions for 71 yellow flag laps. There was one ref flag for track cleanup just before the end of stage 2.
The average speed of the race was: 87.409mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Drivers Points Before Reset, Owner Points Before Reset, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Race Fast Facts – Bristol:
Kyle Larson (P) won the 61st Annual Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, his 12th victory in 252 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his sixth victory and 21st top-10 finish in 2021.
This is his first victory and eighth top-10 finish in 13 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kevin Harvick (P) (second) posted his 21st top-10 finish in 41 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his 19th top-10 finish in 2021.
William Byron (P) (third) posted his second top-10 finish in seven races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Chase Briscoe (13th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Tyler Reddick, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch and Michael McDowell failed to advance to the Round of 12.
(NASCAR)(9-18-2021)
Where the 2021 Cup Series Playoff drivers finished at Bristol:
#5-Kyle Larson, 1st
#4-Kevin Harvick, 2nd
#24-William Byron, 3rd
#12-Ryan Blaney, 4th
#48-Alex Bowman, 5th
#2-Brad Keselowski, 6th
#19-Martin Truex, Jr., 7th
#11-Denny Hamlin, 9th
#22-Joey Logano, 11th
#8-Tyler Reddick, 12th
#10-Aric Almirola, 18th
#1-Kurt Busch, 19th
#18-Kyle Busch, 21st
#9-Chase Elliott, 25th
#20-Christopher Bell, 29th
#34-Michael McDowell, 24th
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Reset:
(Following Bristol; Race 29 of 36 in the season; End of the Round of 16)
1) #5-Kyle Larson, 3059
2) #19-Martin Truex, Jr., 3029
3) #12-Ryan Blaney, 3024
4) #11-Denny Hamlin, 3024
5) #18-Kyle Busch, 3022
6) #9-Chase Elliott, 3021
7) #48-Alex Bowman, 3015
8) #24-William Byron, 3014
9) #22-Joey Logano, 3013
10) #2-Brad Keselowski, 3008
11) #20-Christopher Bell, 3005
12) #4-Kevin Harvick, 3002
See the Driver Points Standings and Owners Point Standings.
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Bristol:
(Race 29 of 36 in the season; End of the Round of 16)
1) #5-Kyle Larson, 2210 [Win in Round of 16]
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 2174 [Win in Round of 16]
3) #19-Martin Truex, Jr., 2145 [Win in Round of 16]
4) #12-Ryan Blaney, 2124, +49 ahead of 13th
5) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2123, +48
6) #22-Joey Logano, 2119, +44
7) #2-Brad Keselowski, 2112, +37
8) #9-Chase Elliott, 2098, +23
9) #48-Alex Bowman, 2085,+10
10) #20-Christopher Bell, 2084, +9
11) #18-Kyle Busch, 2082, +7
12) #24-William Byron, 2077, +2 points head of 13th
Eliminated from the Playoffs
11) #10-Aric Almirola, 2075, -2 points behind 12th
14) #8-Tyler Reddick, 2075, -2
13) #1-Kurt Busch, 2071, -6
16) #34-Michael McDowell, 2028, -49
See the Driver Points Before Reset and Owners Points Before Reset.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: none reported.
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole winner #19-Truex, Jr. chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #11-Hamlin took the 23rd stall, the last stall on the backstretch.
See all pit choices on Pit Stall chart.(9-15-2021)
#19-Martin Truex, Jr. will start from the pole for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
#11-Hamlin will start second, followed by #22-Logano, #9-Elliott, #5-Larson, #20-Bell, #12-Blaney, #4-Harvick, #18-Busch, and #2-Keselowski.
The lineup was set by the qualifying metrics, based on race finish, points position, and fastest race lap.
See the complete starting order on the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Starting Lineup page.(9-15-2021)
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
The Entry List for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted, 38 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Davison, #51-Yeley, #53-Smithley, #66-Starr.
See the full entry list on the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Entry List page.
There will not be practice or qualifying at Bristol.
2021 Cup Series: Bass Pro Shops NRA 500 at Bristol TandemDraft Stats
