Chase Elliott commended Bristol Motor Speedway as an exceptional setting to showcase NASCAR, especially with the added excitement of the Playoff atmosphere, 16 drivers determined to advance, and the dramatic effect of stadium lights illuminating the night. The upcoming NASCAR Cup Series Playoff event at Bristol promises to deliver one of the most electrifying racing experiences of the season.
During a media session in Nashville, Elliott spoke about the longstanding significance of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, a hallmark event in NASCAR’s history. He noted how Bristol races frequently feature in conversations among NASCAR fans due to their memorable moments and intensity.
Bristol Motor Speedway: A Multifaceted Entertainment Hub and NASCAR Hotspot
Elliott emphasized the versatility of Bristol Motor Speedway, describing it as more than just a NASCAR venue. It has also successfully hosted college football games, Major League Baseball events, and sold-out country music concerts, making it a unique stadium that continues to thrive as one of the premier locations for stock car racing.
People always ask me the best races, the best race track,
Elliott said.
It’s hard to beat Bristol, such a great environment, something you don’t get everywhere we go.
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
Elliott’s Performance and the Weekend’s Festivities at Bristol
Chase Elliott’s strongest Bristol performance was his win during the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race. Across 18 official points races at the track, he has secured two second-place finishes, including one in last year’s Night Race, alongside five top-five and eleven top-10 results, which include two finishes on dirt.
This year, Elliott will compete among the 16 Playoff-eligible drivers on the night of September 13, seeking to advance further in the Cup Series. The weekend offers fans numerous special events, such as the NASCAR Trackside Live show hosted by Kenny Wallace and John Roberts, a Track Walk allowing fans to explore Bristol’s unique all-concrete high banks, a pre-race concert featuring Grand Ole Opry member Chris Janson, and the signature driver introductions where competitors enter the stadium to their favorite music.
Bristol does such a great job of bringing the action of what NASCAR has to offer to the fan in an intimate manner,
Elliott noted.
Everything is right there close. We don’t get that stadium environment in racing like you get in football and other sports. Bristol has always been the closest thing to that. It’s a lot of fun for us as competitors and the fans feed off that.
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
A Unique Fan and Competitor Experience at “The Last Great Colosseum”
Jerry Caldwell, Bristol Motor Speedway’s president and general manager, described the track’s atmosphere as a blend of a county fair, music concert, and NASCAR race, creating a vibrant environment for everyone involved. The combined intensity of the Playoff battle and Bristol’s distinctive half-mile “bullring” layout, where cars reach speeds of up to 132 mph, challenges drivers to navigate both fast racing and the ever-present risk of contact.
Playoffs produce a lot of excitement,
Caldwell said.
Bristol produces excitement on its own. For that to be part of the playoff just makes a lot of sense, and I think the fans have responded really well. The drivers seem to like it. Some of them love it, some of them hate it, but that’s what we like. That’s what produces excitement.
—Jerry Caldwell, Bristol Motor Speedway President and GM
The track’s unique design continues to impress drivers and fans alike, offering an unparalleled spectacle and making it a recommended venue for anyone’s first NASCAR race experience.
There is nothing else like Bristol out there,
Caldwell said.
It is the last great Colosseum. It’s a football stadium on steroids. You go into that place and you’ve got 40 cars, running 130 miles an hour right in front of you. And all these people are completely bowled over. It’s an electric environment, and it’s just something that you don’t replicate anywhere else in the country.
—Jerry Caldwell, Bristol Motor Speedway President and GM
Three Nights of High-Stakes Playoff Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend will span three nights from September 11 to 13, showcasing intense Playoff competition across the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Cup Series race, scheduled for Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on USA Network and PRN Radio, will feature top contenders including Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, and Chase Briscoe, among others.
Friday night will launch the Round of 12 Playoffs for the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the Food City 300 at 7:30 p.m. on The CW and PRN Radio. Key drivers such as Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith, Jesse Love, and points leader Connor Zilisch are primed to battle for the win as they begin their postseason campaigns.
The weekend opens on Thursday with a thrilling Truck Series doubleheader, including the Round of 10 Playoffs second race, the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics, airing at 8 p.m. on FS1 and PRN Radio. Competitors to watch include Corey Heim, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, two-time Bristol winner Chandler Smith, and defending champion Layne Riggs. The day begins with the Bush’s Beans 200 <a href="https://www.big14news.com/nascar/arca-menards-series/”>ARCA Menards Series race at 5:30 p.m. on FS1, featuring a mix of seasoned racers and rising talents such as Lawless Alan, Lavar Scott, Brendan “Butterbean” Queen, Brent Crews, Garrett Mitchell (known to many as Cleetus McFarland), Logan Misuraca, and Isabella Robusto.
Bristol Tickets and What Fans Can Expect from the Event
Tickets for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend remain available through the Bristol Motor Speedway website and the BMS ticket sales center by phone. Limited ticket sales will also continue through neighborhood Food City stores until Friday, September 5.
With its rare combination of stadium-style seating, multiple event programming, and playoff racing drama under the lights, Bristol Motor Speedway offers fans and drivers a highly anticipated and memorable weekend of NASCAR competition and entertainment.
