Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee going into the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Fast Facts: Race #3 (Bristol)
Round of 16 Elimination Race
The 2024 season marks the fifth-time Bristol Motor Speedway (2020-2024) has hosted the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (Round of 16 elimination race).
During the Playoff Era, from 2004-2019, Bristol Motor Speedway was scheduled as the 24th race of the regular season.
Bristol Motor Speedway (2020-2024) is the fifth different track in NASCAR Cup Series history to host the third race of the Playoffs; alongside Talladega Superspeedway (2004-2005), Kansas Speedway (2006–2010), Dover Motor Speedway (2011-2017) and the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL (2018-2019).
A total of 16 different drivers have won the third race of the Playoffs, led by Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2013), Greg Biffle (2007, 2010), Tony Stewart (2006, 2009) and Kevin Harvick (2015, 2020) with two wins each.
Four times non-Playoff drivers have won the third race in the NASCAR Cup Seris Playoffs (2005, 2006, 2007, 2022), but it has only happened once since going to the elimnation-style format (2022).
One non-Playoff driver has won the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway (2004-2005) – NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett was 14th in points when he won the 2005 race.
Two non-Playoff drivers have won the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway (2006 – 2010): Tony Stewart was ranked 11th in points when he won the 2006 Kansas Playoff race and Greg Biffle was ranked 14th in points when he won the 2007 Kansas Playoff race.
One non-Playoff drivers have won the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Bristol Motor Speedway (2020 – 2022): Chris Buescher (2022) was ranked 21st in points when he won last season.
Non-Playoff drivers have not won the third NASCAR Cup Playoff race when it was hosted at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (2018-2019) or at Dover Motor Speedway (2011 – 2017).
Third Race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – Race Winners
Track
Date
Race Winners
Elimination Race Winner Notes
Bristol
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Denny Hamlin
Locked in on points during the race
Bristol
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Chris Buescher
Not a Playoff driver
Bristol
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Kyle Larson
Was already locked in on points
Bristol
Sunday, September 19, 2020
Kevin Harvick
Clinched on previous in round win
Charlotte RC
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Chase Elliott
Entered 37 pts above cut line
Charlotte RC
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Ryan Blaney
Entered 4 pts above cut line
Dover
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Kyle Busch
Clinched on previous in round win
Dover
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Martin Truex Jr
Clinched on previous in round win
Dover
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Kevin Harvick
Was in must win position
Dover
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Jeff Gordon
Entered safe on points
Dover
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Jimmie Johnson
Dover
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Brad Keselowski
Dover
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Kurt Busch
Kansas
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Greg Biffle
Kansas
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Tony Stewart
Kansas
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Jimmie Johnson
Kansas
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Greg Biffle
Kansas
Sunday, October 1, 2006
Tony Stewart
Talladega
Sunday, October 2, 2005
Dale Jarrett
Talladega
Sunday, October 3, 2004
Dale Earnhardt Jr
In total, the winner of the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the championship four times (2008, 2012, 2013, 2021); en yet it has only happened once since the elimination-style format was instituted in 2014 (2021).
At Talladega: When Talladega Superspeedway hosted the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004-2005), none of the drivers that won the event went on to win the title later that season.
At Kansas: When Kansas Speedway hosted the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2006-2010), only one driver won the event and went on to win the title in the same season.
In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won the third race of the Playoffs at Kansas, and went on to win his third consecutive title. It was his first of three Playoff wins that season (Kansas, Martinsville-2, Phoenix-2).
At Dover: When Dover Motor Speedway hosted the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2011-2017), two drivers won the event and went on to win the title in the same season.
In 2012, Brad Keselowski won the third race of the Playoffs at Dover, and went on to win his first series title. It was Keselowski’s lone win during the 2012 Playoffs.
In 2013, Jimmie Johnson won the third race of the Playoffs at Dover, and went on to win his sixth series title. It was his first of two Playoff wins that season (Dover-2, Texas-2).
At Charlotte ROVAL: When the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course hosted the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2018-2019), none of the event winners went on to win the title in the same season.
At Bristol: When Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2020-2023), only one driver has won the event and went on to win the title in the same season.
o In 2021, Kyle Larson won the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Bristol Motor Speedway and went on to win his first series title. His Bristol Playoff victory was the first of a record tying five postseason wins in a single season (Bristol, Charlotte RC, Texas, Kansas, Phoenix) – tying NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart (five Playoff wins in 2011).
The worst finish by a driver in the third Playoff race that went on to win the Cup Series title was:
At Talladega Superspeedway (2004-2005): In 2004, Kurt Busch finished fifth at Talladega Superspeedway – the third race of the Playoffs – and went on to win the title later that season.
At Kansas Speedway (2006-2010): In 2006, Jimmie Johnson finished 14th at Kansas Speedway – the third race of the Playoffs – and went on to win the title later that season.
At Dover Motor Speedway (2011-2017): In 2011, Tony Stewart finished 25th at Dover Motor Speedway – the third race of the Playoffs – and went on to win the title later that season.
At Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (2018-2019): In 2019, Kyle Busch finished 37th at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course – the third race of the Playoffs – and went on to win the title later that season.
At Bristol Motor Speedway (2020-2023): In 2022, Joey Logano finished 27th at Bristol Motor Speedway, the third race of the Playoffs, and went on to win the title later that season. Last season, Blaney finished 22nd at Bristol.
At Bristol Motor Speedway: Stats & Tidbits
TRACK & RACE DATA Season Race #: 29 of 36 (09-21-24) Playoff Race: Round of 16 Elimnation Race (3 of 10) Race Name: 64th Annual Bass Pro Shops Night Race The Purse: $9,222,417 Track Size: 0.533-miles Banking/Turns: 24-28 degrees Banking/Frontstretch: 4-8 degrees Banking/Backstretch: 4-8 degrees Frontstretch Length: 650 feet Backstretch Length: 650 feet Race Length: 500 laps / 266.5 miles Stages 1 & 2 Length: 125 laps (each) Final Stage Length: 250 laps
TRACK QUALIFYING & RACE RECORDS
Track Qualifying Record: Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 131.713 mph, 14.568 secs., April 5, 2019
2023 Bristol Playoff Race Pole Winner Aric Almirola, Ford, 128.382 mph, 14.946 secs., September 16, 2022
Track Race Record: Charlie Glotzbach, Chevrolet, 101.074 mph, (2:38:12), July 11, 1971
2023 Bristol Playoff Race Winner Chris Buescher, Ford, 88.286 mph, (3:01:07), September 17, 2022
HISTORY
Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile.
The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway was on July 30, 1961, and the inaugural event was won by Jack Smith with relief from Johnny Allen. Allen drove the final 209 laps in releif for Smith. Smith had a three lap lead when Allen took over.
All of the NASCAR Cup Series races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps each.
In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles.
The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978.
The first night race was held in the fall of 1978.
The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992 – the first track surfaced in all concrete.
The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May, 1996 when the track was sold to Speedway Motorsports.
The track was resurfaced between races in 2007 and progressive banking was added.
In 2012, the turns were ground down to eliminate part of the progressive banking.
In 2020, Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR Cup Series Open and All-Star Race for the first-time.
There have been 124 NASCAR Cup Series points-paying races at Bristol Motor Speedway since the first race in 1961, two races each season until 2021 when the track replaced their spring date with the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track from 2021-2023.
STARTS
A total of 483 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway; 342 have competed in more than one.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Bristol Motor Speedway with 60 starts.
Top five in Cup starts at Bristol – Richard Petty (60), Ricky Rudd (58), Terry Labonte (58), Dave Marcis (54), Darrell Waltrip (52).
Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Bristol Motor Speedway with 35 starts.
Top five in Cup starts at Bristol (active) – Kyle Busch (35), Denny Hamlin (34), Martin Truex Jr (34), Joey Logano (28), Brad Keselowki (26).
NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (12 starts) and driver Charlie Glotzbach (four starts) are tied for the all-time series lead in average starting position at Bristol with a 3.25 each.
Chase Elliott leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in average starting position at Bristol Motor Speedway with a 7.643 in 14 starts.
Top 10 in Average Starting Positions at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Avg Start
Races
Rank
Active Drivers
Avg Start
Races
1
Charlie Glotzbach
3.250
4
1
Chase Elliott
7.643
14
2
Fred Lorenzen
3.250
12
2
Ryan Blaney
8.400
15
3
Marvin Panch
3.750
8
3
Joey Logano
8.536
28
4
Fireball Roberts
4.286
7
4
Brad Keselowski
9.731
26
5
Junior Johnson
4.400
10
5
Chase Briscoe
10.500
4
6
Cale Yarborough
4.552
29
6
William Byron
10.800
10
7
Dick Hutcherson
6.000
5
7
Denny Hamlin
12.000
34
8
Tim Richmond
6.273
11
8
Christopher Bell
13.333
6
9
Benny Parsons
6.370
27
9
Kyle Larson
13.625
16
10
David Pearson
6.550
20
10
Martin Truex Jr
14.588
34
A total of 34 drivers have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Bristol Motor Speedway; the most recent was Chad Finchum (April 16, 2018).
First-Time Drivers
Date
First-Time Drivers
Date
1
Chad Finchum
4/16/2018
18
Bobby Watson
4/5/1970
2
Ryan Truex
8/24/2013
19
Bob Burcham
7/21/1968
3
Terry Cook
3/21/2010
20
Ervin Pruitt
7/21/1968
4
AJ Allmendinger
3/25/2007
21
Joe Edd Neubert
3/19/1967
5
Regan Smith
3/25/2007
22
Buzz Gregory
7/24/1966
6
Dave Mader III
8/27/1988
23
Bill Seifert
3/20/1966
7
Rick Mast
8/27/1988
24
Sonny Lamphear
3/20/1966
8
Butch Miller
4/6/1986
25
Walter Wallace
3/20/1966
9
Brad Teague
3/14/1982
26
Joe Bill Adams
5/2/1965
10
John McFadden
3/14/1982
27
Wayne Smith
5/2/1965
11
Ron Bouchard
3/29/1981
28
Darrell Bryant
7/26/1964
12
Bobby Sands
8/23/1980
29
Doug Wilson
7/26/1964
13
Melvin Revis
8/25/1979
30
Gene Hobby
3/22/1964
14
Mike Potter
4/1/1979
31
Allan Harley
7/29/1962
15
Bill Green
8/26/1978
32
Ralph Smith
7/29/1962
16
Lynn Carroll
4/2/1978
33
Bill Latham
10/22/1961
17
Paul Tyler
3/28/1971
34
Dub Utsman
7/30/1961
Of the 34 drivers that made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Bristol, Bill Seifert posted the best finish – finishing seventh on March 20, 1966.
POLES
A total of 54 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen won the inaugural pole at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series with a speed of 79.225 MPH in a Holman-Moody Racing He finished 33rd out of 42 cars.
Thisd weekend, eight of the 54 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway pole winners are entered in the race.
Active Bristol Pole Winners (8)
Poles
Seasons
Denny Hamlin
4
2019, ’15, ’14, ’13
Kyle Busch
2
2018, ’13
Ryan Blaney
1
2024
Christopher Bell
1
2023
Chase Elliott
1
2019
Kyle Larson
1
2018
Erik Jones
1
2017
Joey Logano
1
2010
NASCAR Hall of Famers Mark Martin (1989, 1993, 1995 sweep, 1996 sweep, 2001, 2009 sweep) and Cale Yarborough (1969, 1970, 1973 sweep, 1975, 1977 sweep, 1980 sweep) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Bristol Motor Speedway with nine poles each.
Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Bristol Motor Speedway with four (2013, 2014, 2015, 2019).
12 different drivers have posted consecutive poles at Bristol Motor Speedway; Mark Martin is the only driver to win four consecutive:
Fireball Roberts (swept 1962),
Fred Lorenzen (swept 1963),
Richard Petty (1967-’68),
Bobby Allison (swept 1972),
Cale Yarborough (swept 1973; swept 1977; swept 1980),
Darrell Waltrip (swept 1981, spring 1982),
Geoff Bodine (swept 1986),
Mark Martin (swept 1995-1996– all four races; and swept 2009);
Rusty Wallace (swept 1998, spring 1999),
Jeff Gordon (swept 2002),
Denny Hamlin (fall 2013, spring 2014)
Carl Edwards (2016 sweep).
Eight different drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series career pole at Bristol Motor Speedway.
First-Time Pole Winners at Bristol
Date
Tim Richmond
Saturday, August 28, 1982
Rick Wilson
Sunday, April 10, 1988
Ernie Irvan
Sunday, April 8, 1990
Chuck Bown
Sunday, April 10, 1994
Steve Park
Sunday, March 26, 2000
Jeff Green
Saturday, August 25, 2001
Joey Logano
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Erik Jones
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Joey Logano (March 10, 2010) and Erik Jones (August 19, 2017) are the only active drivers to win their first NASCAR Cup Series career pole at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Youngest Bristol Cup pole winner: Joey Logano (March 21, 2010 – 19 years, 9 months, 25 days) – his first NASCAR Cup Series career pole.
Oldest Bristol Cup pole winner: Harry Gant (August 27, 1994 – 54 years, 7 months, 17 days) – his last NASCAR Cup Series career pole.
A total of 35 different organizations have won a pole at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Bristol Motor Speedway with 12 poles each:
Hendrick Motorsports has 12 poles among five drivers: Geoff Bodine (1984, 1986 sweep), Jeff Gordon (2002 sweep, 2003, 2004, 2007), Mark Martin (2009 sweep), Jimmie Johnson (2010) and Chase Elliott (2019).
Hendrick Motorsports has 12 poles among seven drivers: Tony Stewart (1999), Joey Logano (2010), Kyle Busch (2013, 2018), Denny Hamlin (2013, 2014, 2015, 2019), Matt Kenseth (2015), Carl Edwards (2016, sweep), Christopher Bell (2023).
This weekend, seven of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway pole winning organizations are active.
A total of nine different manufacturers have won poles at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet (39) and followed by Ford (38), Toyota (12), Dodge (8), Pontiac (7), Buick (4), Plymouth (4), Oldsmobile (3) and Mercury (2).
The longest streak of consecutive NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway pole wins by a manufacturer is nine straight by Ford from 4/2/1995 to 4/11/1999.
WINS
A total of 44 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Bristol Motor Speedway; 21 of the 44 Bristol winners have won multiple times at the half-mile track.
Owner/driver Jack Smith (with relief from Johnny Allen) won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 30, 1961 in a Pontiac.
This weekend, six of the 44 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway race winners are entered in the event.
Active Bristol Winners
Wins
Seasons
Kyle Busch
8
2019, ’18, ’17, ’11, ’10, ’09 sweep, ’07
Denny Hamlin
4
2024, 2023 2019, ’12
Brad Keselowski
3
2020, ’12, ’11
Joey Logano
2
2015, ’14
Chris Buescher
1
2022
Kyle Larson
1
2021
NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Bristol Motor Speedway with 12 victories in 52 starts; including a NASCAR Cup Series record of seven straight (1978, 1979, 1981 sweep, 1982 sweep, 1983 sweep, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1992).
Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers in wins at Bristol with eight victories in 35 starts (Spring 2007, 2009 sweep, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019).
A total of 13 drivers have won consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races at Bristol; led by Darrell Waltrip with seven consecutive victories from 1981-1984.
Fred Lorenzen (1963-1964 sweep)
David Pearson (1968 sweep)
Bobby Allison (1972 sweep)
Cale Yarborough did it twice (1974 sweep and four straight from 1976-1977)
Richard Petty (1975 sweep)
Darrell Waltrip (seven straight: 1981-1984)
Dale Earnhardt did it twice (1985 sweep and 1987 sweep)
Alan Kulwicki (1992 sweep)
Rusty Wallace (2000 sweep)
Kurt Busch (2003 sweep and 2004 Spring race)
Kyle Busch (2009 sweep and Fall 2017-Spring 2018)
Brad Keselowski (Fall 2011-Spring 2012)
Denny Hamlin (Fall 2023-Spring 2024).
Youngest Bristol Cup race winner: Kyle Busch (March 25, 2007 – 21 years, 10 months, 23 days).
Oldest Bristol Cup race winner: Dale Earnhardt (August 28, 1999 – 48 years, 3 months, 30 days).
Five drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series career win at Bristol Motor Speedway:
Dale Earnhardt (April 1, 1979)
Rusty Wallace (April 6, 1986)
Ernie Irvan (March 25, 1990)
Elliott Sadler (March 25, 2001)
Kurt Busch (March 24, 2002)
A total of 24 different starting positons have produced at least one NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The race winner has started from the pole or first starting position 27 times (21.77%) – the most productive starting position in the field.
A total of 16 different drivers have won from the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway. The most recent driver to win from the pole or first starting position was Brad Keselowski on March 31, 2020.
Drivers
Wins From Pole or First Starting Position
Seasons
Rusty Wallace
4
2000, 1999, 1993, 1991
Cale Yarborough
4
1980, 1977 sweep, 1973
Darrell Waltrip
3
1982, 1981 sweep
Carl Edwards
2
2016, 2008
Matt Kenseth
2
2015, 2005
Bobby Allison
2
1972 sweep
Brad Keselowski
1
2020
Denny Hamlin
1
2019
Kyle Busch
1
2018
Jeff Gordon
1
2002
Mark Martin
1
1993
Alan Kulwicki
1
1992
Dale Earnhardt
1
1985
David Pearson
1
1971
Richard Petty
1
1967
Fred Lorenzen
1
1963
Six drivers have won from the pole position or first starting position multiple times: Bobby Allison (1972 twice), Cale Yarborough (1973, 1977 twice, 1980), Darrell Waltrip (1981 twice, 1982), Rusty Wallace (1991, 1993, 1999, 2000), Matt Kenseth (2005, 2015) and Carl Edwards (2008, 2016).
More than half (72 wins, 58.06%) of the NASCAR Cup Series winners at Bristol Motor Speedway have started in the top-five.
The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 38th, by Elliott Sadler in 2001.
The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started is 20th, by Kyle Busch in 2007 and Chris Buescher in 2022.
NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Bristol Motor Speedway
Starting Position
Wins
Winning %
Starting Position
Wins
Winning %
1
27
21.77%
13
4
3.23%
2
14
11.29%
14
2
1.61%
3
10
8.06%
15
1
0.81%
4
10
8.06%
17
1
0.81%
5
11
8.87%
18
2
1.61%
6
9
7.26%
19
3
2.42%
7
1
0.81%
20
2
1.61%
8
7
5.65%
24
2
1.61%
9
6
4.84%
26
1
0.81%
10
2
1.61%
27
1
0.81%
11
1
0.81%
30
1
0.81%
12
5
4.03%
38
1
0.81%
Stats
Winning %
Wins
Winning from the First Starting Position:
21.77%
27
Winning from the Front Row:
33.06%
41
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:
58.06%
72
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:
78.23%
97
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:
4.84%
6
A total of 30 different organizations have visited Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Junior Johnson & Associates leads the NASCAR Cup Series in organization wins at Bristol Motor Speedway with 16 victories among thre drivers: Cale Yarborough (seven wins: 1974, 1976 sweep, 1977 sweep, 1978, 1980), Darrell Waltrip (eight wins: 1981 sweep, 1982 sweep, 1983 sweep, 1984, 1986) and Junior Johnson (1965).
Joe Gibbs Racing lead all active NASCAR Cup Series organizations in wins at Bristol Motor Speedway with 15 victories each; followed by Team Penske with 13 and Hendrick Motorsports and RFK Racing with 12 each.
Eight different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series 124 races at Bristol Motor Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 46 victories; followed by Ford (40 wins), Toyota (14), Dodge (8), Pontiac (8), Buick (4), Plymouth (3) and Oldsmobile (1).
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes:
A total of 54 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Bristol Motor Speedway, 27 of the 54 have posed more than one runner-up finish.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes with 10 second-place finishes.
Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in runner-up finishes at Bristol with four.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Runner-Ups
Rank
Active Drivers
Runner-Ups
1
Richard Petty
10
1
Kyle Busch
4
2
Rusty Wallace
7
2
Kyle Larson
3
3
Bobby Allison
6
3
Martin Truex Jr
2
4
Dale Earnhardt
6
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
2
5
Kevin Harvick
6
5
Brad Keselowski
1
Mark Martin
6
Chase Elliott
1
Denny Hamlin
1
Erik Jones
1
Top-Five Finishes:
A total of 121 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Bristol, led by NASCAR Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty with 26 top-five finishes each.
Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway with 14 top-five finishes.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Top Fives
Rank
Active Drivers
Top Fives
1
Darrell Waltrip
26
1
Kyle Busch
14
Richard Petty
26
Denny Hamlin
11
3
Bobby Allison
23
3
Brad Keselowski
7
4
Rusty Wallace
22
4
Joey Logano
6
5
Dale Earnhardt
20
Kyle Larson
6
Top-10 Finishes:
A total of 209 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished inside the top-10 at Bristol Motor Speedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty with 37 top-10 finishes.
Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers in top-10 finishes at Bristol with 19 top 10s.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Top 10s
Rank
Active Drivers
Top 10s
1
Richard Petty
37
1
Kyle Busch
19
2
Terry Labonte
33
2
Denny Hamlin
18
3
Darrell Waltrip
32
3
Kyle Larson
11
4
Ricky Rudd
31
4
Brad Keselowski
10
5
Dale Earnhardt
30
5
Joey Logano
10
Average Finishes:
Dick Hutcherson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing postion with a 2.4 in five starts.
Kyle Larson leads the Cup Series among active drivers in average finishing position at Bristol with a 11.6 in 16 starts.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Drivers
Avg Finish
Races
Rank
Active Drivers
Avg Finish
Races
1
Dick Hutcherson
2.400
5
1
Kyle Larson
11.625
16
2
Junior Spencer
5.500
2
2
Chase Elliott
11.643
14
3
Jimmy Hensley
6.500
2
3
John H. Nemechek
13.000
3
4
Joe Weatherly
6.667
6
4
Denny Hamlin
13.559
34
5
Janet Guthrie
8.500
2
5
Christopher Bell
13.833
6
6
Benny Parsons
8.630
27
6
Kyle Busch
14.171
35
7
Gene Black
9.000
3
7
Erik Jones
14.750
12
8
Dale Earnhardt
9.256
43
8
Ryan Preece
15.286
7
9
Rusty Wallace
9.568
44
9
Brad Keselowski
15.808
26
10
Cale Yarborough
10.483
29
10
Joey Logano
16.321
28
LAP LEADERS
A total of 139 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough leads the Cup Series in laps led at Bristol with 4,305 laps led in 29 starts.
Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Bristol with 2,598 in 35 starts.
The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is 500 laps led by Cale Yarborough on March 25, 1973 – he won the event starting from the pole position and led every lap.
The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway by a driver that did not win the event was 442 laps led by Richard Petty who finished second on July 26, 1964 – he started first.
The fewest laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway by the race winner was one lap, the final lap, by Fred Lorenzen – who passed Richard Petty to win on July 26, 1964 – Lorenzen started eighth.
Top 10 Laps Leaders at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)
Rank
All-Time Driver
Led
Completed
% Led
Rank
Active Driver
Led
Completed
% Led
1
Cale Yarborough
4,305
10,878
40%
1
Kyle Busch
2,598
16,507
16%
2
Dale Earnhardt
3,751
20,038
19%
2
Denny Hamlin
1,199
16,330
7%
3
Rusty Wallace
3,743
20,474
18%
3
Brad Keselowski
1,014
12,691
8%
4
Darrell Waltrip
3,436
22,964
15%
4
Kyle Larson
889
7,826
11%
5
Jeff Gordon
2,730
22,525
12%
5
Joey Logano
771
13,607
6%
6
Kyle Busch
2,598
16,507
16%
6
Ryan Blaney
507
6,532
8%
7
Bobby Allison
2,316
17,253
13%
7
Chase Elliott
444
6,967
6%
8
Richard Petty
2,212
23,815
9%
8
Christopher Bell
360
2,979
12%
9
David Pearson
1,616
6,660
24%
9
Martin Truex Jr
341
16,292
2%
10
Matt Kenseth
1,583
18,056
9%
10
Erik Jones
293
5,972
5%
FEMALE COMPETITORS
Two female drivers have made NASCAR Cup Series starts at Bristol: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Driver Rating
Date
Danica Patrick
24
25
44.5
8/19/2017
Danica Patrick
29
36
38.5
4/24/2017
Danica Patrick
29
22
43.3
8/20/2016
Danica Patrick
33
27
45.7
4/17/2016
Danica Patrick
32
27
55.8
8/22/2015
Danica Patrick
26
9
72.6
4/19/2015
Danica Patrick
24
27
45.2
8/23/2014
Danica Patrick
36
18
55.6
3/16/2014
Danica Patrick
22
26
46.2
8/24/2013
Danica Patrick
41
28
41.4
3/17/2013
Danica Patrick
43
29
46.3
8/25/2012
Averages
30.8
24.9
48.6
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Janet Guthrie
9
6
8/28/1977
Janet Guthrie
21
11
4/17/1977
Averages
15
8.5
TRACK/EVENT SPECIFIC STATS
Since the advent of electronic scoring (1993) the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway is the March 25, 2007 race won by Kyle Busch with a margin of victory of 0.064 second over Jeff Burton.
Top Five Closest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol:
Rank
Margin of Victory
Winner
Runner-Up
Date
1
0.064
Kyle Busch
Jeff Burton
Sunday, March 25, 2007
2
0.098
Kyle Busch
Mark Martin
Saturday, August 22, 2009
3
0.102
Dale Jarrett
Mark Martin
Saturday, August 23, 1997
4
0.140
Mark Martin
Rusty Wallace
Saturday, August 28, 1993
5
0.160
Rusty Wallace
Mark Martin
Saturday, August 27, 1994
0.160
Terry Labonte
Dale Earnhardt
Saturday, August 26, 1995
Two of the 124 NASCAR Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
Scheduled Laps
Actual Laps
Fewer Laps
Race Winner
Date
500
342
158
Jeff Gordon
Sunday, March 31, 1996
500
419
81
Darrell Waltrip
Saturday, August 27, 1983
Qualifying has been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway seven times.
No.
Reason for Cancellation
Date
Started First
1
Weather
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Tony Stewart
2
Weather
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Jimmie Johnson
3
Weather
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Casey Mears
4
Weather
Monday, April 24, 2017
Kyle Larson
5
Pandemic
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Brad Keselowski
6
Pandemic
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Brad Keselowski
7
Pandemic
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Martin Truex Jr.
There have been five NASCAR Overtime finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway:
Scheduled Laps
Actual Laps
Overtime Laps
Race Winner
Date
500
511
11
Matt Kenseth
Sunday, April 19, 2015
500
503
3
Carl Edwards
Sunday, March 16, 2014
500
503
3
Kyle Busch
Sunday, March 22, 2009
500
506
6
Jeff Burton
Sunday, March 16, 2008
500
504
4
Kyle Busch
Sunday, March 25, 2007
NASCAR IN TENNESSEE
A total of 381 NASCAR national series races among nine tracks have been held in the state of Tennessee.
NASCAR Tracks in Tennessee
City
Cup
Xfinity
Truck
Total Races
First Year
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol
124
80
27
231
1961
Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt
Bristol
3
0
3
6
2021
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville
4
25
17
46
2001
Chattanooga International Raceway
Chattanooga
2
0
0
2
1962
Kingsport Speedway
Kingsport
3
0
0
3
1969
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis
0
11
12
23
1998
Nashville Speedway
Lebanon
42
9
5
56
1958
Smokey Mountain Raceway
Maryville
12
0
0
12
1965
Tennessee-Carolina Speedway
Newport
2
0
0
2
1956
Totals
192
125
64
381
The first NASCAR Cup Series race held in Tennessee was at Tennessee-Carolina Speedway on October 7, 1956 and won by Fireball Roberts.
TENNESSEE DRIVERS IN NASCAR
A total of 110 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Tennessee.
15 drivers from Tennessee have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series; totaling 155 wins across all three series.
Tenessee Drivers In NASCAR with Wins
NASCAR Winners From Tennessee
Cup
Xfinity
Truck
Combined
Darrell Waltrip
84
13
0
97
Sterling Marlin
10
2
0
12
Bobby Hamilton
4
1
10
15
Joe Lee Johnson
2
0
0
2
Trevor Bayne
1
2
0
3
Paul Lewis
1
0
0
1
Josh Berry
0
5
0
5
Bobby Hamilton Jr
0
5
0
5
Jeff Purvis
0
4
0
4
L.D. Ottinger
0
3
0
3
Mike Alexander
0
2
0
2
Casey Atwood
0
2
0
2
Brad Teague
0
1
0
1
Chad Chaffin
0
0
2
2
John King
0
0
1
1
Totals
102
40
13
155
Darrell Waltrip, from Franklin, Tennessee, was inducted into the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Waltrip is the only Tennessee native driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Only two of the 15 drivers from Tennessee have won at least one race in the NASCAR Cup Series at a track located in the state of Tennessee: Darrell Waltrip (Bristol, 12 wins; Nashville, eight wins) and Joe Lee Johnson (Nashville, one win).
