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11h ago

Christopher Bell Wins Bristol Night Race After Late Restart as JGR Sweeps Round of 16

A softer right-side tire forced extra stops plus an in-race tire allocation, reshaping strategy to set the Round of 12 field.

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Sep 13, 2025; Bristol, Tennessee, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell (20) wins the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
Sep 13, 2025; Bristol, Tennessee, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell (20) wins at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Bell led the final four laps and held off Brad Keselowski by 0.343 seconds to earn his fourth win of the season, completing a Joe Gibbs Racing sweep of the opening playoff round.
  • The new right-side tire produced rapid wear that triggered a season-high 14 cautions and early green-flag stops, prompting NASCAR to grant an extra tire set around Lap 273.
  • Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry were eliminated, while Austin Cindric narrowly advanced despite a late right-front fire and multiple lost laps.
  • Ty Gibbs led a race-high 201 laps but missed pit entry during final green-flag stops and settled for 10th after contending for his first Cup win.
  • Zane Smith finished third behind Bell and Keselowski, with Ryan Blaney fourth and Joey Logano fifth, as the playoffs move to New Hampshire on Sept. 21 for the Round of 12 opener.