NASCAR Cup Series playoffs: Buescher wins; Briscoe, Bowman, Suarez and Cindric eliminated at Bristol

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to its “Last Great Colosseum” in northeast Tennessee to trim its playoff field from 16 to 12 this weekend. Bristol Motor Speedway with its tight quarters and high banks is one of the most unique tracks on the circuit and always produces on-track drama. NASCAR brass know exactly what they’re doing, placing Bristol as a playoff cut-down race.

Christopher Bell enters the weekend atop the playoff column with 2,108 points, followed by William Byron (2,098), Denny Hamlin (2,097) and Joey Logano (2,090). Here is everything you need to know for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

NASCAR Bass Pro Shops Night Race results

1. Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford

2. Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

3. William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

4. Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

5. Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

6. Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

7. AJ Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

8. Cole Custer (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

9. Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

10. Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

11. Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

12. Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

13. Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford

14. Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

15. Corey Lajoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

16. Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

17. Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

18. Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

19. Daniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

20. Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

21. Erik Jones (43), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet

22. Landon Cassill (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

23. BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

24. Ty Dillon (42), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet

25. Tyler Reddick (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

26. Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

27. Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

28. Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota

29. Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

30. Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

31. Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

33. Kyle Busch (18), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

34. Ty Gibbs (45), 23XI Racing Chevrolet

35. Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

NASCAR Bass Pro Shops Night Race starting grid

1. Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

2. Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

3. Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

4. Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

5. Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

6. Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

7. Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

8. Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

9. Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

10. Brad Keselowski (6), Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

11. Cole Custer (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

12. Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

13. AJ Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

14. Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota

15. Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

16. William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

17. Tyler Reddick (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

18. Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

19. Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

20. Chris Buescher (17), Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

21. Kyle Busch (18), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

22. Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

23. Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

24. Erik Jones (43), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet

25. Ty Gibbs (45), 23XI Racing Chevrolet

26. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

27. Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

28. Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

29. Daniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

30. Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

31. Corey Lajoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

32. Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

33. BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

34. Ty Dillon (42), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet

35. Landon Cassill (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

36. J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

NASCAR Cup Series weekend schedule and how to watch

Fans in the United States can watch the race on the USA network, the USA mobile app or the NBC Sports app (cable or satellite subscription required). Radio coverage is available on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM.

(All times ET)

Friday, Sept. 16

Qualifying: 5:20 -6:30 p.m. ET (USA, MRN, SiriusXM)

Saturday, Sept. 17

Bass Pro Shops Night Race: 7:30 - 11 p.m. ET (USA, MRN, SiriusXM)

Top drivers and best bets for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race

According to BetMGM four playoff drivers – Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch – enter the weekend with the best moneline at +700. Following them are fellow playoff competitors Bell and Kevin Harvick (+900 apiece).

Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg reports that nearly half of the money has been bet on Busch or Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. (+1600), who just narrowly missed out on the playoff chase by a handful of points. Bromberg suggests good mid-tier value can be found in Byron, who sports the same moneyline as Truex Jr. and suggests staying away from playoff driver Ross Chastain (+1400) as there is a good chance payback is coming.

Weather forecast for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race

Warm and clear. The “Thunder Valley” moniker is well-earned by the track not only because of its roaring action but also because thunderstorms are common in the area and have wreaked havoc on many a race weekend there, but doesn’t appear to be a concern this time around.