Austin Dillon remains within reach of advancing in the Austin Dillon NASCAR Playoffs Bristol chase, following his determined performance and 18th-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway. With the field set to narrow from sixteen to twelve after Saturday’s pivotal night race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Dillon leads a pack of drivers fighting to stay alive in the postseason battle.
Despite a challenging race in Greater St. Louis, where his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet struggled, Dillon and his team leveraged strategy to keep playoff hopes alive. The result places Dillon just 11 points behind Austin Cindric, the last driver above the elimination line, making the upcoming Bristol race majorly consequential for his season.
Dillon reflected on the weekend’s effort, noting
“At the end of the race when we finished 18th, that was the best we were all day. We got stage points in Stage 2 and that was huge. It gives us a shot going into Bristol Motor Speedway. Hopefully, we bring the best car that we can so that we can make a run and advance into the next round of the Playoffs.”
—Austin Dillon, Driver
Challenging Odds at Bristol for Playoff Contenders
Bristol presents an uphill challenge for the 35-year-old Dillon, who has raced at the Tennessee half-mile oval twenty times and earned only a single top-five finish, coming in fourth place back in 2016. His average finish at Bristol is 17.8, though he managed a 10th-place result in this year’s spring event. For comparison, Austin Cindric’s average finish at Bristol stands at 22.6 across five starts, while Ross Chastain, also in close contention, boasts three top-10s since joining Trackhouse Racing.
Other drivers, such as Shane van Gisbergen, who trails Dillon by just four points, will need favorable circumstances to move forward. Both Alex Bowman and Josh Berry, who sit 35 and 45 points below the cutoff respectively, are in must-win situations as they approach the decisive race under the lights.
Front-Runners Secure Playoff Advancement as Larson Dominates Bristol
Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin have already locked in their places in the next playoff round with wins at Darlington and Gateway. Kyle Larson, enjoying a substantial 60-point cushion above the elimination line, appears poised for a stress-free run at Bristol. Larson’s recent performances on the high-banked concrete have been commanding—securing victories in the previous two events and leading a staggering 873 out of a possible 1,000 laps during those races.
Larson carries momentum into the Bristol showdown with a streak of six consecutive top-five finishes, which includes three victories. Despite Goodyear introducing a softer right-side tire for this race, Larson feels his familiarity with Bristol overshadows any changes:
“I’m not really going into it with any different mind-set than what we typically would go to Bristol,”
—Kyle Larson, Driver
He went on,
“It races amazing, and I’ve always been competitive there. I just feel like I’ve got a natural feel for the pace and rhythm that it takes to go good there. I hope our car’s close again and we can execute a good weekend like we have the last two times there.”
—Kyle Larson, Driver
Connor Zilisch’s Hot Streak Headlines Xfinity Playoff Opener
As the NASCAR Xfinity Playoffs unfold, all eyes are turning to rookie Connor Zilisch, the breakout star for JR Motorsports. Zilisch comes into Friday’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway with an eye-popping record: he has claimed victories in seven of the last eight races, including a streak of four consecutive wins. These accomplishments tie him with NASCAR legends Sam Ard and Noah Gragson for the most consecutive Xfinity Series victories.
With his role as Regular Season Champion, Zilisch currently enjoys a 59-point cushion above the elimination threshold for the Round of 8. Recognizing the pressure and opportunity, he shared,
“This No. 88 team has been on a run this year, and four wins in a row is a rare feat, but we aren’t going to take any of that for granted going into the Playoffs,”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
He added,
“It has been awesome to have the success we have had this season, and we plan to unload another fast WeatherTech Chevrolet this Friday.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
Defending champion Justin Allgaier is also comfortably inside the points margin, trailing only Zilisch in terms of security. For the remainder of the ten playoff drivers, from Sam Mayer to Austin Hill, the point difference is razor-thin—a mere 16 points separating third from twelfth. Hill faces an uphill climb, sitting five points below the cut after losing regular-season playoff points due to a penalty for an on-track incident with Aric Almirola. This set-up promises an intense and unpredictable scramble at Thunder Valley.
Chandler Smith Looks to Rebound in Truck Series Playoffs
On Thursday night, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series continues its postseason drama with Chandler Smith hoping for a turnaround after a disappointing run at Darlington left him nearly at the bottom of the standings. Smith, who crashed out early in the previous race, is just two points behind eighth-place Jake Garcia heading into the UNOH 250 at Bristol. Despite the setback, optimism remains high.
“Honestly, I’m not too worried about it,”
—Chandler Smith, Driver, said, reflecting on his approach even as he faces elimination. He emphasized his previous strength at Bristol earlier this year, stating
“…Going back to Bristol, we were really strong there earlier this year,”
—Chandler Smith, Driver. He added further,
“Then New Hampshire as well, so I’m not really worried about the point situation.”
—Chandler Smith, Driver
Smith captured the spring Bristol event starting from third, aligning with a recent trend of consistently fast Ford trucks from Front Row Motorsports. Additional confidence comes from his broader record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which will also play a deciding role in playoff advancement after the EJP 175 on September 20. Smith remains undaunted:
“We’ve still got two races left going back to Bristol, where we won earlier this year and then New Hampshire for the last race of this round, where I’ve been really strong in the past as well,”
—Chandler Smith, Driver
He expressed faith in his team:
“I’m not really discouraged or anything about that. I think our trucks here recently have been really good. Everybody at Front Row Motorsports has been giving me a truck capable of going out there and winning.”
—Chandler Smith, Driver
Corey Heim, who is already guaranteed a spot in the next round after eight wins, aims to notch a fourth straight Truck Series victory this week. Heim’s surge of four wins in five races, including three from the pole, makes him a formidable contender as the playoff field looks to shrink further at New Hampshire.
Anticipation Builds for Pivotal Weekend at Bristol
With Austin Dillon striving for an upset at Bristol, playoff hopefuls across NASCAR’s top three series approach the Tennessee track with ambitions and pressure in equal measure. Dillon’s drive, the emergence of Connor Zilisch, and the drama surrounding the cutoff lines ensure that both Saturday night’s Cup race and supporting events carry major consequences for drivers, teams, and their championship outlooks. The fierce competition, particularly among the playoff drivers listed, sets the stage for high-stakes action under the Bristol lights and promises defining moments in NASCAR’s postseason chase.
