The 12-driver grid for the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs will be established after Saturday night’s 500-lap race (7:30 p.m ET, USA Network) at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Sixteen drivers remain eligible for the series championship. Four will be eliminated after Saturday’s event.
Below the cut line entering the race are Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick (two former champions), Austin Dillon and Chase Briscoe.
MORE: Kevin Harvick: SHR should have pursued Kyle Busch more aggressively
A race win in any round advances eligible drivers to the next round, but Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace, drivers who did not qualify for the playoffs, have won the first two races in the opening playoff round.
Christopher Bell leads the point standings and has qualified for the second round via points.
Details for Saturday’s Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway
(All times Eastern)
START: The command will be given by Bass Pro Shops’ Johnny Morris at 7:38 p.m.. … The green flag is scheduled to wave at 7:47 p.m.
PRERACE: Cup garage opens at 4:30 p.m. … Driver introductions are at 7 p.m. … The invocation is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. … The anthem will be performed by Motor Racing Outreach children at 7:31 p.m.
DISTANCE: The race is 500 laps (266 miles) on the .533-mile speedway.
STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 125. Stage 2 ends at Lap 250.
STARTING LINEUP: Bristol starting lineup
TV/RADIO: USA Network will broadcast the race at 7:30 p.m. … Countdown to Green airs at 6:30 p.m. on USA Network. .. Performance Racing Network coverage begins at 7 p.m. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the PRN broadcast.
STREAMING: NBCsports.com
FORECAST: According to wunderground.com, the forecast calls for sunny skies, a high of 84 degrees and a low of 56. Clear skies for the evening.
LAST TIME: Kyle Busch outran Tyler Reddick by .33 of a second to win in April on the Bristol dirt surface.
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