Bristol Night Race Groovy Gauge Presented by Lectric eBikes

What’s Happening?

Christopher Bell stole the show under the lights at Bristol, taking advantage of tire wear, late chaos, and a perfectly timed restart to hold off Brad Keselowski in a throwback finish. Eric Estepp breaks down how Goodyear’s tire brought back the old Bristol feel, why so many playoff favorites struggled, and how surprise runs from names like Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, and Corey Heim flipped the Round of 16 on its head. Catch Eric’s full analysis in this week’s Out of the Groove, featuring the Groovy Gauge, powered by Lectric eBikes.

Groovy Gauge Score: 95%

• Eric called Bristol one of the best short track races of the Next Gen era. He praised the way Goodyear’s tire and the PJ1 combined to bring back the feel of old Bristol, rewarding discipline, tire management, and true racecraft in a way fans haven’t seen in years.
• He acknowledged that some fans complained about drivers not going flat-out all race, but argued that conserving equipment and knowing when to attack is exactly what makes a race like this special, with every run still having moments where drivers went all-out, with bold moves, three-wide restarts, and plenty of contact.
• He highlighted Christopher Bell’s bump-and-run finish against Brad Keselowski as the kind of thrilling ending that will be debated for years, while also noting how the marbles and worn rubber literally became part of the show, changing lines and opening the door for passing.
• For Eric, this was Bristol at its best, a showcase of driver skill, strategy, and drama that exceeded expectations after a shaky practice, which landed his Groovy Gauge at 95%, calling the Bristol Night Race a reminder of why the track is still NASCAR’s coliseum and why fans travel from across the world to witness it.

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