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NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Bristol Night Dud

JHby:Jonathan Howard•09/23/24•

Jondean25

Kyle Larson Bristol
Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

What has become of NASCAR‘s Bristol Night Race? Many are still wondering exactly how the racing changed so much from the spring. There were four national series races between ARCA, Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series – and that means a lot of moving parts to the weekend.

Before we get ready for Kansas this week, let’s take a look back at what happened at Bristol. Honestly, the Truck Series might have been the highlight?

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Watching Cole Custer go from the back to the front of the Xfinity Series race was cool, but even Dale Earnhardt Jr. got held up by slower cars on track at times, instead of being able to make a pass. But let’s get into the action.

Connor Zilisch sweeps ARCA, Truck Series poles

The weekend began on Thursday last week. Connor Zilisch wasted no time impressing again after his debut Xfinity Series win at Watkins Glen only days prior.

Zilisch won the pole for both the ARCA and Truck Series races, but his time at Bristol didn’t end on a high note. A championship slipped from his fingers.

William Sawalich gets the last laugh in ARCA East battle

Before the halfway break, Zilisch wrecked into Logan Misuraca before he was lapping her on the track, Misuraca wrecked. Zilisch got caught up in it.

This allowed William Sawalich to run away with not only the win but the ARCA East championship. These two development drivers went back and forth this year and Sawalich got the last laugh.

Layne Riggs goes back-to-back as NASCAR Playoff spoiler

There has been no driver more impressive in the NASCAR Playoffs than Layne Riggs in the Truck Series. He isn’t even in the playoffs for his own series.

Riggs has won the two opening races of the postseason in the Truck Series. First Milwaukee, now at Bristol. It wasn’t even particularly close this time around. Look out for this No. 38 truck.

Is DUMPkin Spice TOO far?

On the lighter side of the weekend, Anthony Alfredo introduced the NASCAR Bristol crowd to something new. DUMPkin Spice Dude Wipes.

Now, some are asking, is this taking pumpkin spice too far? And others are saying, I’ll try anything once. Which are you?

Spire, Rick Ware trade LaJoie and Haley for rest of 2024

On Friday, there was an announcement that Spire Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing were making a driver trade. Corey LaJoie for Justin Haley.

Haley will drive the No. 7 for the rest of this season and in 2025. LaJoie only has guarantees for the rest of this season with Rick Ware. For what it’s worth, LaJoie was outpacing Haley before being wrecked.

Dale Jr. has eventful race at Bristol

Watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. race is always a treat. Every driver in the field relishes the chance to race against a Hall of Famer.

While Junior didn’t lead laps this year, he lost his glasses, changed out his helmet, radio, and wiring harness, and ended up P7. Not a bad night for Junebug, especially since he spent more time drinking beer on pit road after the race than the actual race.

Cole Custer wins race, regular season championship

In the Xfinity Series regular-season finale, Cole Custer put on a heck of a show. He hit the wall and suffered a flat on Lap 1 and had to go to the back of the field.

From there, Custer drove through the field and to start the final stage, took the lead. He didn’t look back and claimed the regular season title as Justin Allgaier had major issues.

NASCAR throws crew chiefs a curveball at Bristol

Crew chiefs were not very happy to learn that NASCAR would add PJ1 to the bottom of the track. They had already set up cars that were made for severe tire falloff, and that didn’t happen.

A few crew chiefs spoke out about the late notice, just hours before the race. It didn’t seem to mess too many teams up during the race. In fact, it probably made the race somewhat watchable with three-wide racing at times.

Erik Jones catches fire in the pits, TV missed it

You may have missed it on the TV broadcast but Erik Jones had a big moment on pit road. Jones’ car caught fire as he was getting four tires and fuel.

Luckily, no one was hurt and safety crews acted quickly. It was another rough outing for Jones and his Legacy Motor Club team.

Kyle Larson dominates ‘bad’ NASCAR Bristol Night Race

Kyle Larson led 462 of 500 laps. And fans did not like what they saw on the track. At least, on social media they didn’t seem to like it.

Passing was difficult and there were issues with letdown from it not being like the spring race. Larson sounded off on fans who he sees as only caring about drama and late restarts.