Four drivers eliminated from NASCAR Playoffs as Kyle Larson wins Bristol Night Race
More than 400 laps led and Kyle Larson wins the Bristol Night Race. Two former champions have been eliminated from the NASCAR Playoffs. This wasn’t the chaotic Bristol race we’ve come to know but it was decisive in eliminating four playoff drivers as it always is.
This was perhaps the most dominating race of Kyle Larson’s career but it was the battles within the playoff field that really made it an intriguing race. For four drivers, this was the end of the road.
Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs, and Harrison Burton were all eliminated from the NASCAR Playoffs.
Kyle Larson led all but 38 laps tonight. 462 laps led is the most laps led by any Hendrick driver ever. That means Larson led more laps tonight than Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson ever did in a single race.
It was interesting watching Denny Hamlin tonight. He did not race scared like he did in Atlanta. He qualified well unlike Watkins Glen. Then he was able to run a clean race, stay out of trouble, and bring it home in the top-5. He did what he had to do to advance and he’s moving on to the Round of 12.
The surprise tonight was probably Ty Gibbs. He had to put together a strong race and hope for Chase Briscoe to come back down to Earth this week. That didn’t happen. Briscoe scored a bunch of stage points, finished P8. Gibbs faded late in the race and finished P15.
Somehow, someway, Daniel Suárez finished 31st and managed to advance thanks to his first two races in this round. He cut it close, though.
Four drivers eliminated from NASCAR Playoffs
You have to give credit to Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, and Daniel Suárez. They were three drivers who made the NASCAR Playoffs thanks to winning a race this year, not on points. They were all outside of the top-16 in terms of regular season points.
However, despite that, each of those drivers advanced to the Round of 12. Champions Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski did not. Ty Gibbs, seen as a potential champion in the Cup Series one day, did not advance. Harrison Burton did not advance.
It is a shame to see things end so early for Truex. This is his final full-time season. He will ride off into the sunset after this and only return for the rare race here and there. Like the 2025 Daytona 500.
The NASCAR Playoffs are cruel. One or two bad races will end your championship hopes. That is all it takes. For four drivers tonight at Bristol, it was the final nail in the coffin. End of the line. Now, we load up the 12 remaining drivers, reset the points, and do it all again at Kansas, Talladega, and the Roval.