Five drivers face critical night at Bristol in NASCAR Chase
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 17, 2026, 6:38 PM
Last updated Sep 17, 2026
The NASCAR Cup Series is underway at Bristol Motor Speedway for a key Chase race. Five drivers—Austin Cindric, Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece, William Byron, and Daniel Suárez—are separated by just 11 points at the bottom of the standings, each looking to improve their position. Denny Hamlin leads the championship standings as the competition tightens, with stage points at a premium. All 16 Chase drivers will remain eligible through the season finale, making each point crucial as drivers aim to close the gap on the leaders amid the 10-race championship format.
- •Austin Cindric is 12th in points with 2,060, 108 behind Denny Hamlin.
- •Buescher, Preece, Byron, and Suárez trail closely within 11 points of each other.
- •None of the bottom five drivers face elimination but need strong finishes.
- •Bristol offers crucial stage points that could affect their standings.
- •Eight races remain after Bristol, heightening the importance of every performance.
- 6:38 PMYahoo Sports — 5 NASCAR Drivers Facing a Make-or-Break Night at Bristol
"The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Bristol for its first Chase elimination race with five drivers separated by only 11 points around the transfer line.
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