The Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway is Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. It is the third race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and the last race of the Round of 16, which means four drivers go home when the checkered flag falls. Kyle Larson is the betting favorite.
Race Details
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Start time | 7:30 p.m. ET (green flag shortly after) |
| TV | USA Network, with pre race coverage ahead of the green flag |
| Radio | PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio |
| Practice and qualifying | Friday, September 18, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET on truTV |
| Distance | 500 laps, stages of 125, 125 and 250 |
| Playoff round | Race 3 of 10; Round of 16 cutoff, field trims from 16 to 12 |
| Track | 0.533 mile concrete oval, Bristol, Tennessee |
What Is on the Line
Bristol closes the opening round of the playoffs. Any playoff driver who wins Saturday automatically advances to the Round of 12; everyone else is sorted by points, and the bottom four of the 16 are eliminated. That makes the night race the first true elimination race of the postseason and the reason it produces more desperate driving than a normal Bristol weekend. Round of 12 begins the following weekend.
How to Watch Without Cable
USA Network is available on Fubo, Sling Blue, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream. The race also streams through the NBC Sports app with a pay TV login, and Peacock carries NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage where applicable. Friday’s practice and qualifying air on truTV.
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The Bottom Line
Bristol Night Race, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, 500 laps, four playoff drivers eliminated at the end of it. Larson is the favorite. Playoff standings and the entry list are added here after Friday qualifying.