Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee Venue & Schedule
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (151 Speedway Blvd, Bristol, TN), often called “The Last Great Colosseum,” “Thunder Valley,” or “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.”
Race start: Approximately 7:30 p.m. ET (driver introductions around 6:55 p.m.;
TV coverage on The CW.
Practice: ~2:00–2:50 p.m. ET.
Qualifying: ~3:05–4:00 p.m. ET (“Nobody Trashes Tennessee Qualifying”).
Distance: 300 laps / 159.9 miles on the 0.533-mile concrete oval.
Stages: 85 / 170 / 300 laps.
TV/Radio: The CW / PRN Radio / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This is Race 27 of 33 and the third race of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase (playoffs).
Track Details
Bristol is a classic high-banked short track known for intense, bumper-to-bumper racing, frequent cautions, and the “bump-and-run.”
Length: 0.533 miles (0.858 km).
Surface: Concrete.
Configuration: 4-turn oval.
Banking: Turns progressive 24–28° (historically marketed higher; current progressive system); straights 4–8° (frontstretch higher end, backstretch lower).
Straightaways: Approximately 650 feet each.
Width: Racing surface roughly 40–43 feet (wider in turns).
Unique features: Two separate pit roads (front and back stretch); stadium-style seating creating a loud, enclosed atmosphere; steep banking allows high speeds into the tight corners.
Character: Short-track aggression rules. Passing is difficult without contact; tire management, restarts, and track position are critical. Night racing under the lights amplifies the intensity.
Weather Forecast
Expect warm late-summer conditions typical for Bristol in mid-September.
Highs around 86–88°F (30–31°C) during the day, cooling to the upper 60s°F (around 20°C) by race time. Partly to mostly sunny with a 40–50% chance of afternoon/evening showers or thunderstorms. Light winds. Humidity will be moderate to high. Track conditions should be mostly dry but could feature a rubbered-in surface with possible brief delays if storms develop. Cooler night air often improves grip later in the race.
Driver Matchups & Favorites
The Chase is heating up, with tight points battles. Current standings leaders (approximate as of mid-September):
Sheldon Creed (#00 Haas Factory Team) — Points leader, strong recent form, multiple top-10s.
Justin Allgaier (#7 JR Motorsports) — Extremely consistent (league leader in wins and average finish in many metrics); historically excellent at Bristol short tracks; frequent stage points earner.
Carson Kvapil (#1 JR Motorsports) — High average starting position; rising contender.
Jesse Love (#2 Richard Childress Racing), Austin Hill (#21 RCR), Sam Mayer (#41 Haas), Sammy Smith (#8 JR Motorsports), Corey Day, Brandon Jones (#20 Joe Gibbs Racing) — All strong Chase contenders with short-track pedigree.
Other notables include rookies and part-timers such as Brent Crews, Rajah Caruth, and various one-off entries. JR Motorsports and Haas Factory Team cars are expected to be fast. Allgaier is frequently among the top betting favorites due to experience and Bristol success. Short-track specialists and drivers who excel in traffic/restarts will have the edge.
Race History
The Food City 300 (previously under different sponsorship names) is a long-standing Bristol fall event for the second-tier series. It traditionally produces high-action races with multiple lead changes, cautions, and dramatic finishes due to the track’s nature. Past winners often include series regulars who master tire wear and restarts. Bristol’s concrete surface and banking reward aggressive driving but punish mistakes. The race is a key Chase stop where playoff drivers fight for stage points and elimination avoidance.
Recent Driver Forms
Allgaier: Dominant consistency throughout 2026 with multiple wins and top finishes; leads or near the top in laps led and average finish.
Creed: Surged into the points lead with strong results heading into Bristol.
JR Motorsports contingent (Allgaier, Kvapil, Smith) and RCR cars (Love, Hill) have been among the strongest overall.
Short-track form from earlier in the season (spring Bristol, Martinsville, Richmond-style venues) will be a key indicator. Drivers who adapted well to concrete and progressive banking will fare better.
Betting Trends
Short tracks like Bristol often favor experienced series regulars over one-off Cup stars. Allgaier is a perennial strong favorite (often 4-1 to 6-1 range in similar events). Creed, Mayer, Love, and Hill typically offer solid value. Trends:
High caution rates → stage points and mid-pack recovery opportunities matter.
Track position and pit strategy critical; clean air is valuable.
Night races can see grip improve as temperatures drop.
Driver Odds
Justin Allgaier + 275
Carson Kvapil + 500
Sheldon Creed + 700
Brent Crews + 800
Sam Mayer + 850
Austin Hill + 1000
Jesse Love + 1000
Corey Day + 1200
Brandon Jones + 1200
Taylor Gray + 1600
Rajah Caruth + 2000
Sammy Smith + 2500
William Sawalich + 2800
Jake Finch + 4000
Ryan Sieg + 4500
Parker Retzlaff + 4500
Nicholas Sanchez + 4500
Harrison Burton + 6000
Anthony Alfredo + 7000
Andrew Patterson + 20000
Jeremy Clements + 20000
Jeb Burton + 25000
Dean Thompson + 35000
Patrick Staropoli + 50000
Stefan Parsons + 70000
Landon S. Huffman + 70000
Josh Williams + 70000
Brennan Poole + 90000
Ryan Ellis + 90000
Logan Bearden + 90000
Kyle Sieg + 90000
Carson Ware + 100000
Blaine Perkins + 100000
Lavar Scott + 100000
Josh Bilicki + 100000
JJ Yeley + 100000
Garrett Smithley + 100000
Dawson Cram + 100000
David Starr + 100000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, September 17, 2026
