NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series Fans React To Kyle Larson Dominating Bass Pro Shops Night Race At Bristol Motor Speedway

Author photo
By
Jeff Hawkins
Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Get to know Jeff Hawkins better
Sports Editor

Published22 Sep 2024

Disclosure
We publish independently audited information that meets our strong editorial guidelines. Be aware we may earn a commission if you purchase anything via links on our pages.
NASCAR: Bass Pro Shops Night Race

After opening the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with two ho-hum efforts, Kyle Larson made a statement by dominating Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. 

“It feels good to close one out,” Larson told NBC Sports.  

The 2021 Cup champion closed out the Round of 16 by leading 462 of 500 laps. He established a new Hendrick Motorsports single-race record, eclipsing all-time greats like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Gordon previously owned the record when he paced Martinsville Speedway field for 431 laps on April 20, 1997. 

“(We) just had a great car,” said Larson, who placed P37 and P12 in the first two postseason events. “Great execution by the team all weekend.” 

Will his dominance continue as the circuit shifts to the Round of 12 at Kansas Speedway? 

X (Twitter) users reacted to the hard, tight racing at the iconic short track and four drivers – Harrison Burton, Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. – failing to advance … 

Two down. Again. Former circuit champions are starting a tradition they don’t want to follow annually. With Keselowski and Truex failing to advance out fo the Round of 16, it marked the third time in four seasons two ex-titleholders were eliminated early. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick were ousted in 2022. The previous year, Joey Logano and Harvick were ousted …  

Family cute … 

Did Jr., who earned a P7 at Bristol on Friday night, compete in his final Xfinity Series event Friday night? Certainly not, right? … 

Larson made his way around Bowman on Lap 33 and dominated the rest of the event …

Burton’s crew went to work to get the Wood Brothers machine back into the race. On Lap 221, Burton complained of not having power steering. His playoff run essentially ended … 

After posting all three drivers in the top 10 last week at Watkins Glen, Spire Motorsports carried its momentum into qualifying with Carson Hocevar and Corey LaJoie beginning in the opening five rows for the first time in franchise history. LaJoie piloted the No. 7 Chevrolet for the final time as he will take over Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 Ford for the remainder of the season. Essentially traded for LaJoie, Justin Haley will assume the No. 7 ride, which ran into trouble Saturday night …   

Battling for a playoff spot, Daniel Suarez (99) tangled with Erik Jones (43) on Lap 358. Suarez was battling with Ty Gibbs for the No. 12 spot at the time. He overcame his emotions and advanced … 

Denny Hamlin entered Saturday 14 points below the cutoff line, but placed P4 and advanced to the Round of 12 …  

Competing in his final full-time Cup Series season, Truex, the 2017 Cup champion, entered the event 14 points below the final transfer spot and finished out of the playoff chase … 

Pre-race tire talk. At the end fo the race, the conversations were much different on the final night of summer than it was during the spring race. Hey, the Goodyear tires allowed for sustained racing this time around …  

The sun set on the first round of the playoffs …