NASCAR: Starting lineup for Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol, first playoff elimination race
The first elimination race in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. It’s the third race in the opening Round of 16, and by the time the race ends, the playoff field will shrink from 16 to 12 drivers for the next round.
Kevin Harvick won the first playoff race, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and Brad Keselowski is the most recent winner after taking the checkered flag at Richmond Raceway on Saturday. They automatically advance to the Round of 12, and Denny Hamlin clinched his place in the next round based on points.
But the remaining nine spots will be determined by the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN).
Without practice or qualifying sessions, the starting lineup is now created with the following factors from the previous race, with playoff drivers automatically starting up front:
15 percent based on a fastest lap time 25 percent based on the driver’s finishing position 25 percent based on the owner’s race position 35 percent based on points in the owner standingsSo here’s the starting lineup for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol with Keselowski on the pole.