The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will narrow down from 16 to 12 drivers following the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 13. This pivotal event, known as the NASCAR Cup Series Night Race, will add significant tension as drivers fight to advance in the postseason.
Denny Hamlin secured his position in the Round of 12 with a victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, joining his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe in moving forward. However, racing at the famed Bristol track, often called The Last Great Colosseum, is expected to disrupt the current playoff standings, with some competitors facing critical must-win scenarios.
How to Watch the Bass Pro Shops Night Race
The race will start at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with live broadcast coverage on the USA Network. While most NASCAR Cup Series events are broadcast on USA Network, four races in the season are shown on NBC, making this race part of the primary USA Network lineup.
In preparation for the event, practice and qualifying sessions are scheduled for Friday, September 12, and will be televised on truTV. The practice session begins at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying later in the evening, helping viewers get insights into the drivers’ form ahead of Saturday’s race.
Full Weekend Race Schedule at Bristol Motor Speedway
The weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway features several races across different NASCAR series, providing fans a full weekend of live motorsports action. The event opens on Thursday, September 11, with a doubleheader comprising the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series contests.
The ARCA Menards Series event, the Bush‘s Beans 200, will start at 5:30 p.m. ET and air on FS1. This is followed by the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at 8:00 p.m. ET. On Friday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 takes the spotlight at 7:30 p.m. ET, broadcast on The CW Network, which covers the full 2025 Xfinity Series schedule.
Additionally, practice and qualifying sessions for the Craftsman Truck and Xfinity Series will take place earlier in the weekend, giving race fans a chance to track performance and see which drivers are gaining momentum. Detailed timing for these sessions is as follows:
Thursday, September 11 Race and Practice Timetable
3:05 p.m. ET – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Practice
4:10 p.m. ET – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying
5:30 p.m. ET – ARCA Menards Series Bush’s Beans 200
8:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics
Friday, September 12 Schedule for Practice and Qualifying
2:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice (streamed on CW App)
3:05 p.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying (streamed on CW App)
4:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Practice (broadcast on truTV)
5:40 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying (broadcast on truTV)
7:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 (TV on The CW Network)
Saturday’s Featured NASCAR Cup Series Event
The weekend culminates with the high-stakes NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. This race will be crucial in defining the playoff picture as the field moves toward the next round, intensifying efforts for drivers struggling near the cut-off line.
“Next. Below the Cutline. BELOW THE CUTLINE: Bowman, Berry Likely in Must-Win Situation. dark”
This comment highlights the pressure on drivers like Bowman and Berry, who must achieve victory to avoid elimination from the playoffs. The outcome at Bristol will likely have significant implications on their championship hopes.
With the challenging nature of Bristol Motor Speedway and its impact on the playoff standings, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race represents a critical turning point. Success here can propel drivers deeper into contention, while setbacks may end their championship ambitions prematurely.
