Christopher Bell seized victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, taking advantage of a late caution to surpass Brad Keselowski in a tense finish that concludes the Playoffs’ Round of 16.
Bell, driving with the benefit of new tires, charged to the front during a lap 497 restart and managed to maintain his position amid pressure and contact from Keselowski in the race’s final turn. The victory marks Bell’s fourth win of the season and the thirteenth in his Cup Series career. Brad Keselowski finished second, followed closely by Zane Smith, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano, demonstrating strong performances from each driver as the round came to a close.
Joe Gibbs Racing Achieves Round Sweep
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race wraps up the Round of 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Christopher Bell‘s achievement also completed a sweep for Joe Gibbs Racing in this round, as earlier victories in the playoffs’ opening events came from Chase Briscoe, who won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and Denny Hamlin, who captured a win at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Playoff Eliminations After Bristol
Following the cutoff race at Bristol, four drivers—Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, and Josh Berry—were eliminated from championship contention. Each competitor put forth their best effort, but the challenging circuit and playoff points structure determined who advanced.
Looking Ahead to the Round of 12
As the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs move into the Round of 12, racing continues next Sunday, September 21, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Mobil 1 301. Fans can follow the live action on USA Network, the Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The stakes will only grow higher as drivers pursue the season’s top prize at some of the country’s most renowned tracks.
Noteworthy figures from the event include not only Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski, but also emerging talents like Zane Smith and playoff hopefuls like Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano. The competition at Bristol underlined the unpredictable nature of the playoffs and set the stage for further drama in the coming races.
