The NASCAR Xfinity Series Bristol race takes center stage at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, September 12, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Competitors are primed for the Food City 300, the first event in the 2024 Playoff Round of 12, where a mix of rookie sensations and seasoned racers will vie for victory on the famed 0.533-mile concrete oval.
Fans can tune in via The CW at 7 p.m. ET, or listen through PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR for comprehensive race coverage. With a total purse of $1,651,939 and 300 challenging laps to contest, the stakes are high for drivers and teams alike as the playoff battle gets underway at this iconic venue.
Key Schedule and Viewing Details for a Packed NASCAR Weekend
The Bristol event forms a highlight of a packed NASCAR weekend. Action begins Thursday, September 11, featuring NCTS practice and the Kennametal Pole Qualifying at 3 p.m. ET on FS2, followed by the ARCA Bush’s Beans 200 on FS1, and the NCTS UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics in primetime at 8 p.m. ET. On Friday, NXS practice and qualifying take place on The CW App at 2 p.m. ET, with NCS practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying airing on truTV and SiriusXM before the marquee Food City 300. Saturday rounds out the festivities with the NCS Bass Pro Shops Night Race broadcast on FS1 and SiriusXM.
Bristol’s Enduring Legacy and Race Highlights
Bristol Motor Speedway remains a cornerstone of the Xfinity Series, marking its 83rd running and surpassing all other venues in race frequency. Since debuting on the schedule in 1982, Bristol has featured in every Xfinity Series season. This year, it stands as the fourth of five short-track stops and notably serves as the playoff opener for only the second time, with the last instance in 2023.
The three-race Round of 12 includes Bristol, Kansas, and the Charlotte Roval, after which the four drivers lowest in points will be eliminated. Only one past Xfinity Series champion, Justin Allgaier, has made the playoffs this year, highlighting the depth of new talent. Allgaier notches his tenth consecutive playoff appearance, having qualified every year since the format’s 2016 introduction.
Playoff Field Features Stellar Rookies and Historic Team Achievement
This season’s playoff lineup introduces four rookies: Connor Zilisch, Nick Sanchez, Taylor Gray, and Carson Kvapil. Their inclusion coincides with a milestone for JR Motorsports, as all four of its drivers earned playoff spots — only the third such occurrence for any organization, with JR Motorsports responsible for each instance. The rookie contingent has already made history, sweeping the top three finishing spots in the last two races.
Connor Zilisch stands apart, having amassed a record 64 playoff points and holding a commanding 59-point advantage over the cutoff driver. His ninth win of the season extended his rookie record, and he matched a rare feat by becoming the third driver in series history to win four consecutive races. No driver has ever managed five in a row, putting a potential new record within reach this weekend.
Zilisch’s statistical dominance continues: he has won seven of the last eight events, carved a streak of 14 straight top-five finishes since returning from injury, and owns the best win percentage in series history at 34%. These accomplishments eclipse the career win totals of all but four other racers in Saturday’s field, reinforcing his pole position as the driver to beat.
Spotlight on Veteran Justin Allgaier and Emerging Stars
Veteran Justin Allgaier remains in the spotlight, entering Bristol as the sole past winner competing and with 28 career victories — just one shy of NASCAR legend Matt Kenseth. With 297 career top-10 finishes, he is three away from becoming the first ever to reach 300 top-10s in the series. Additionally, his next start marks his 498th career appearance, surpassing Mike Wallace for the fifth-most in series history.
Other rising names such as Sam Mayer, who has collected four previous Bristol wins across multiple series, and ARCA points leader Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, set to debut in the Kaulig Racing #11, are aiming to leave their own mark on Friday. Jesse Love leads the pack with 18 top-10 finishes this season, reflecting a strong and consistent performance throughout the year.
Manufacturers and Teams Chasing Historic Benchmarks
Chevrolet holds a significant edge in the series, leading 77% of this season’s laps and collecting 23 wins in the first 26 races—a new record for a manufacturer over that span. JR Motorsports, meanwhile, has set its own records: the team has won 11 of the last 13 events with four unique drivers and tallied 16 total wins this year with a remarkable six different winners (excluding Parker Kligerman’s substitute victory at Daytona).
Five crew chiefs have celebrated their inaugural Xfinity Series wins in 2025, including Chad Haney at Atlanta, Sam McAulay at Darlington, Adam Wall at Bristol, Cory Shea in Mexico City, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Pocono. Crew dynamics and recent finishes, such as five races ending with last-lap passes, have added excitement and unpredictability to the season.
Playoff Picture and Advancement Scenarios
No driver has clinched a spot in the next round’s field of eight ahead of the Bristol race, keeping the playoff calculus open. If a driver not advancing to the next round wins at Bristol, several contenders may clinch on points by staying at least 113 markers ahead of the final eligible position. However, even top performers like Connor Zilisch need external factors to solidify advancement by points alone under most scenarios.
A win, however, guarantees progression. Drivers who would secure their playoff advancement with a victory at Bristol include Zilisch, Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Brandon Jones, Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, Nick Sanchez, Carson Kvapil, Taylor Gray, Sheldon Creed, Harrison Burton, and Austin Hill.
Anticipation Builds as Bristol Ushers in the Playoff Stretch
Bristol’s place as the inaugural event in the playoff round elevates every on-track battle, with talented rookies, established championship contenders, and formidable teams all hungry for an edge. Records are within reach for newcomers like Connor Zilisch, while accomplished competitors such as Justin Allgaier seek to extend their legacies at a track steeped in NASCAR tradition.
With the series shifting to O’Reilly as title sponsor in 2026, replacing Xfinity and following the legacies of Budweiser, Busch, and Nationwide, the outcome of this Bristol race will help define a pivotal moment in NASCAR Xfinity Series history while shaping the playoff destiny of its top stars.
