Bristol Motor Speedway fan-favorite Austin Dillon punched his Playoff ticket with a victory Saturday night in Virginia guaranteeing he will be among the 16 drivers battling for the championship when the NASCAR Cup Series arrives at the crown jewel Bass Pro Shop Night Race on Saturday, September 13.

It was a moment of redemption for Dillon, who one year ago missed the Playoffs due to controversy around his win at the same event. Now the huge contingent of fans at Bristol Motor Speedway who cheer on the famed No. 3 Chevrolet of Richard Childress Racing, and show allegiance to the event title sponsor Bass Pro Shops, will once again have one of their favorites in the mix gunning for the series crown.

“Man, that feels good, I’ve got to thank the good Lord above,” Dillon said following his win Saturday night. “I really wanted that one. Last year, hurt really bad. Just going through the whole process of it. But this one feels so sweet.”

After next weekend’s NASCAR regular season finale in Florida, Dillon can start focusing on the Round of 16 Playoffs, which includes stops at Darlington, S.C. and St. Louis, Ill., before the teams arrive at ultra-challenging Bristol Motor Speedway for 500 laps of Playoff mayhem. As the opening round’s elimination race, four of the 16 championship contenders will be eliminated from contention once the checkered flag drops at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7:30 p.m., USA Network, PRN Radio).

Dillon, who has advanced to the second round in three of the five times he has qualified for the Cup Playoffs, says he feels like he is hitting his stride in the season at the perfect time.

“We’re kind of like a fighter, we don’t go away,” Dillon said. “I think a lot of people think that guy is going to go away at some point. We’re able to claw, chip, find ways. I like that underdog mentality a little bit.”

Dillon is still looking for his first Cup win at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has one victory on the Bristol concrete in the 2016 Food City 300 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He also won a Late Model race when the track was converted to dirt in 2021. At his most recent Cup start at Bristol this past April, he posted a 10th place finish in the tradition-rich Food City 500.

He recently talked about the keys to running well at Bristol during a media availability for the Speedway Children’s Charities Golf Tournament at the beautiful Olde Farm Golf Club in Bristol, Virginia.

“I can’t wait to get to Bristol,” Dillion said earlier this month. “It’s always one of the best races of the year. I think the RCR short track program is pretty good right now… The biggest thing is being able to run both the high and low line. It’s being able to change lanes and make good moves from entry to corner.”

Including Dillon, the 14th different winner this season, the Playoff lineup of drivers is strong. One additional new winner could join the group next weekend at Daytona. The other 13 Playoff automatic qualifiers include regular season champ William Byron, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Josh Berry and Shane Van Gisbergen.

At this point the Playoff math is very simple: there are two Playoff spots available with more than 10 very capable drivers trying to grab them.

The two drivers who are holding down positions 15-16 via points at the moment are Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman. Some of the drivers who are on the outside looking in that certainly have won races in the past and could get into the Playoffs with a victory include Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Daniel Suarez, and former Daytona winners Michael McDowell, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Others to watch include Ty Gibbs, Ryan Preece, AJ Allmendinger, Erik Jones and rookie Carson Hocevar.

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend will feature three nights of action-pack racing, showcasing the Round of 12 Playoff opener in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 on Friday night, Sept. 11 (7:30 p.m. The CW, PRN Radio). Look for Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith, Jesse Love, and current points leader Connor Zilisch to challenge for the victory.

On Thursday night, Bristol Motor Speedway will feature a thrilling doubleheader to kick off the weekend, with the second race of the Round of 10 Playoffs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series headlining the action. Corey Heim, Ty Majeski, Rajah Caruth, two-time Bristol Truck winner Chandler Smith and defending winner Layne Riggs are among the drivers to watch in the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (8 p.m., FS1, PRN Radio). Thursday’s racing will open with the Bush’s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series (5:30 p.m., FS1) race, where the future stars of stock car racing will strut their stuff. A strong mix of veterans and newcomers will tangle, including Lawless Alan, Lavar Scott, Brendan “Butterbean” Queen, Brent Crews, Garrett Mitchell (aka Cleetus McFarland), Logan Misuraca and Isabella Robusto for the victory. 

To purchase tickets to the Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend, please visit the Bristol Motor Speedway website, or call the BMS ticket sales center at (866) 415-4158. Limited tickets are available at your neighborhood Food City stores until Friday, Sept. 5.

BMS PR

JR Motorsports told NASCAR.com‘s Zach Sturniolo Monday that Connor Zilisch is currently slated to compete in Friday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks later told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that Zilisch could be a “game-time decision” for Daytona.

While Zilisch drives for JRM in Xfinity, he’s a developmental driver for Trackhouse. Marks said that Zilisch wants to get back in the race car, as does JRM. Right now, the final decision is undecided.

“It’s a balance,” Marks said. “It’s a balance between a 19-year-old kid who just wants to be in the race car and can’t stand not being in the race car and is capable of driving the race car right now. And the other side of that is we need to make a smart decision. What we can’t do is rush him back into the car, especially a place like Daytona, get in a wreck and then be worse off than we were before.

“So, it’s kind of a day-by-day deal right now. This will be a big week to see how his rehab goes and his comfort level and all that stuff. And it could end up being a game-time decision. I know that we all want him back in the race car. He wants to be back in the race car. JRM wants him to be back in the race car. But we’ve got to make smart decisions, so I would just say, stay tuned on that one.”

Connor Zilisch recovering from surgery

Zilisch, 19, is recovering from surgery to repair his broken collarbone. He sustained the injury following the Aug. 9 race at Watkins Glen International after falling off the top of his car while celebrating in Victory Lane. Zilisch appeared to get his left foot stuck in the window net upon climbing out of his car, leading to the fall. 

Fortunately for Zilisch, he had an entire week off before Daytona. He’s already missed one race this season due to a back injury, and you know he doesn’t want to miss another. Zilisch is the Xfinity Series points leader after his victory at Watkins Glen, his sixth of the season. He holds a seven-point advantage over teammate Justin Allgaier in the race for the regular season championship.

Open-Air Suites and Loge Boxes Enhance NASCAR Cup Series Race Day Experience

MADISON, Ill. (Aug. 18, 2025) – Officials from World Wide Technology Raceway announced today the completion of an extensive renovation and remodeling project on the Turn 1-2 “Wallace” Grandstand, ahead of the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series event on Sunday, Sept. 7. The renovations feature the addition of 16-person open-air suites and loge boxes, aimed at enhancing the race day experience.

“We’ve had tremendous success with our suite and chalet program during NASCAR weekend, but we recognized a need for smaller businesses and groups looking to entertain while experiencing a higher level of service than standard seating,” said Curtis Francois, WWT Raceway Owner and CEO. “Our team visited more than a dozen venues around the country to gather ideas and received valuable feedback from fans and the business community while developing these new hospitality offerings.”

The Wallace Grandstand Open-Air Suites can accommodate up to 16 people, with the option to purchase up to four standing-room-only passes. Guests will enjoy spectacular views with amenities just steps away, including concessions and restrooms. Each suite holder will also receive four VIP parking passes located immediately behind the grandstand structure. The open-air suites are designed as a “modern sports hospitality lounge,” featuring soft-surface seating, cocktail tables, and flooring made of wood and turf.

The Wallace Grandstand Loge Boxes cater to groups of four, eight or 16 guests, featuring a dedicated drink rail, unobstructed views and wide chairs specially designed for comfort with enhanced air flow. Fans purchasing four tickets will receive a complimentary VIP parking pass.

Francois and his in-house design team emphasized sustainability and resource conservation throughout the project. The WWT Raceway facilities team oversaw the project and used an innovative approach to provide the most modern fan amenities. This effort demonstrates the track’s commitment to creativity that provides practical benefits while aligning with broader environmental goals.

“Curtis’s vision for continuously evolving the venue is resonating with our ticket buyers,” said Chris Blair, WWT Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager. “By word of mouth alone, and without conceptual drawings, our team sold seven of the eight open air suites just from previous event contacts. We are already receiving significant interest in our loge boxes, with fans eager to secure their premium options for years to come.”

For additional information, please contact the WWT Raceway ticket office at 618-215-8888 ext. 1 or visit wwtraceway.com. 

About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA racing in St. Louis’ Metro East region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering 700 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1.25-mile superspeedway; 1/4-mile drag strip; 2.0-mile road course; the Gateway Kartplex state-of-the-art karting facility; and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and Owner & CEO Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2023 St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame induction; 2023 Innovation in Philanthropy Award by the St. Louis Business Journal; 2022 Explore St. Louis Hospitality Hero Recognition; 2022 Best in Show and Best Event & Festival from the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism; 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association. Our mission: We are committed to making a difference in our community, while providing first-class entertainment and memories that last a lifetime.

Source: World Wide Technology Raceway

The official entry list has been released, and a total of 40 drivers and teams will take part in the regular season finale for the NASCAR Cup Series. 20 of those drivers face a must-win situation, meaning they have to win the race or face missing the 2025 playoffs.

Along with the usual 36 full-time drivers and teams, there are four part-time entries filling out the field. Richard Childress Racing will enter the No. 33 Chevrolet as a third entry with Austin Hill. The Xfinity Series regular has four wins at Daytona in the lower two divisions.

The Carl Long-owned No. 66 Ford is also going to take part in the race with NASCAR veteran Casey Mears behind the wheel, making his 591st start in the Cup Series.

NY Racing Team has also entered the No. 44 Chevrolet with Joey Gase as the driver. Gase has 92 previous starts in the Cup Series, including Iowa earlier this year, where he finished 37th.

Additionally, the field will include the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet with team owner B.J. McLeod making his fourth start of the year. McLeod has just two tops in his Cup career, but both of those came at Daytona.

2025 NASCAR Cup entry list for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona