On Saturday, 37 NASCAR Cup Sequence drivers will do battle in one other version of the Bristol Evening Race. Saturday’s race can be the third race of the 2024 Cup Sequence playoffs, and on the finish of the evening, 4 drivers will probably be eradicated from championship rivalry. This is what it’s worthwhile to know earlier than one other Bristol barnburner.
Two former champs, Hamlin at risk of elimination
Denny Hamlin, 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr. and 2012 champion Brad Keselowski all enter Saturday’s race beneath the lower line, and all three drivers will want huge factors days in an effort to advance to the Spherical of 12. Poor strategy at Atlanta and a crash at Watkins Glen have Hamlin six factors beneath the lower line, whereas Keselowski and Truex Jr. sit 12 and 14 factors again of twelfth, respectively. Becoming a member of the long run Corridor of Famers beneath the lower line is Harrison Burton who must make up 30 factors in an effort to advance to the second spherical. The excellent news for Truex Jr. and Hamlin? They certified fourth and eighth, respectively, whereas Keselowski (twenty third) and Burton (thirty fourth) will probably be mired in site visitors when the inexperienced flag flies. Hamlin has gained the final two races at Bristol, whereas Truex Jr. (second) and Keselowski (third) completed on the rostrum behind Hamlin in March.
Spire Motorsports continues to be on a roll
Recent off of one of the best race in group historical past, Spire Motorsports got here to play at Bristol. Even with bizarre circumstances happening for the group off the monitor, Carson Hocevar (seventh) and Corey LaJoie (ninth) each managed to qualify inside the highest 10. Search for Hocevar – who completed third at Watkins Glen — to doubtlessly be within the combine for his first profession win on Saturday evening.