The ARCA Menards Series Bristol race will launch a thrilling Thursday doubleheader at Bristol Motor Speedway, featuring the Bush’s Beans 200 at 5:30 p.m. followed by the UNOH 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at 8 p.m. This marks race No. 2 in the Craftsman Trucks Round of 10 Playoffs, where top drivers are fiercely competing to advance in the postseason. The doubleheader unfolds at the iconic Bristol, known as The Last Great Colosseum, promising intense competition and high stakes for all contenders involved.
Corey Heim Seeks to Extend His Winning Streak on the High Banks
Corey Heim, the regular-season champion, arrives at Bristol with remarkable momentum, having won the Playoff opener at Darlington two weeks ago and riding a three-race winning streak. With eight victories this season, the highest among his peers, Heim is positioned as a dominant force for Thursday night’s ARCA contest and the following Truck Series race. A former Bristol winner, he aims to use his proven skill to secure front-row qualifying and maintain his impressive run.
It feels like I’m in a dream,
Heim said.
Eight wins this year is phenomenal, man. It’s great to look back on, but we’ve also got so much to look forward to.
—Corey Heim, Driver
Heim will also manage the demanding schedule of his double duty, handling the No. 67 23XI Racing truck on Saturday in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, underscoring his determination to compete at the highest levels across series.
Playoff Contenders Set Their Sights on Victory and Advancement
Following closely in the standings are Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, and Grant Enfinger, all of whom are key challengers to Heim’s dominance in the Playoffs. Riggs, riding the emotional high of last September’s Bristol win, thrives on the aggressive racing style suited to Bristol’s unique layout. His approach to the track reflects a fearless attitude that has brought him success under Bristol’s lights.
I wasn’t scared to throw it against the fence tonight,
Riggs recalled after last year’s win.
The track was so fun. So much fun… At the end you could run the bottom or the top and get equal lap times.
—Layne Riggs, Driver
Currently second in Playoff points, Riggs was not in the Round of 10 during his previous Bristol win but now aims to capitalize on another victory here to solidify his postseason position. Meanwhile, Chandler Smith and Kaden Honeycutt look to rebound in Tennessee after slow starts, both entering the UNOH 250 below the cut line.
Smith, once considered a championship favorite before a recent error at Darlington, remains focused and optimistic about his playoff chances, especially with a strong showing planned at Bristol.
It stings, but right now it looks like we’re plus-one, but 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,
Smith said.
I’m not really discouraged or anything about that. I think our pace in our trucks and our trucks here recently have been really good. Everybody at Front Row Motorsports has been giving be a truck capable of going out there and winning.
—Chandler Smith, Driver
Notable Drivers and Teams Enter the Bristol Playoffs Battle
The Trucks field includes rising talents such as Brent Crews in the No. 1 TRICON Garage truck and Corey Day behind the wheel of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevy. Also, former NASCAR Cup driver Corey LaJoie returns in the No. 77 Chevy for Spire Motorsports. Mason Maggio will fill in for Frankie Muniz in the No. 33 Reaume Brothers entry, adding depth to the competition.
Henderson Motorsports, representing Abingdon, Virginia, competes with a heartfelt mission to honor team owner Charlie Henderson, who recently passed away. Driver Parker Kligerman, carrying the weight of those memories, has secured two victories this season and aims to deliver another strong performance in his No. 75 Chevy for the hometown outfit.
Playoff drivers needing a victory to advance include Tyler Ankrum, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, and Jake Garcia, all primed for aggressive runs in the critical UNOH 250 race. Majeski, a former winner at Bristol, especially hopes to leverage his past success on the high banks to move up in the standings.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights Promising Young Talent
The ARCA Menards Series features its own share of star drivers competing in the Bush’s Beans 200, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Bristol’s challenging half-mile circuit. Season frontrunner Lawless Alan leads the field alongside notable drivers such as Lavar Scott, Zachary Tinkle, Brent Crews, Brenden Queen—known as “Butterbean”—Thad Moffitt, Jason Kitzmiller, and Isabella Robusto.
Garrett Mitchell, also recognized as YouTube’s Cleetus McFarland, prepares for his fourth ARCA start of the season driving the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford. After a 30th-place finish at Daytona, Mitchell improved steadily with a 10th place at Talladega and a 9th-place effort at Charlotte Motor Speedway, showing promising progression on diverse tracks.
Nashville native Logan Misuraca will compete in her second ARCA start at Bristol, driving the No. 9 Chevy for Rev Racing. This event marks her first start of the season and her fifth overall in ARCA, with her best finish of 18th coming at Daytona last year.
A late addition to the Bush’s Beans 200 is Bobby Dale Earnhardt, grandson of nine-time Bristol Cup winner Dale Earnhardt Sr. Making his Bristol debut, Earnhardt will drive the No. 31 Team Main Street car for Rise Motorsports. This race is his fourth start in the ARCA Menards Series, aiming to continue establishing his presence in the sport.
Weekend Packed with NASCAR Playoff Events Across Multiple Series
The Bristol race weekend continues to build anticipation as Friday night features the Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Race at 7:30 p.m., also a Playoff event broadcast on The CW and PRN Radio. The excitement culminates on Saturday with the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race, the crown jewel in this series’ Playoffs, airing at 7:30 p.m. on the USA Network and PRN Radio.
With multiple series competing in high-stakes contests at this historic venue, fans can expect intense rivalry and significant shifts in postseason standings throughout the weekend.
What This Means for the Playoffs and Season Progression
Bristol Speedway’s Thursday doubleheader brings crucial opportunities for drivers to drive momentum forward in the Playoffs and secure their status in NASCAR’s championship hunt. Established contenders like Corey Heim and Layne Riggs aim to build on recent success, while others below the cut line are desperate to turn their fortunes around. The ARCA Menards Series race also showcases the next generation of talent at a demanding and strategic track.
As the season advances toward the Round of 8 in the Craftsman Truck Series and key ARCA battles unfold, performances at Bristol will have significant impact, heightening the drama heading into the final races of the opening playoff round.
