# 2023 Bass Pro Shops Night Race

The 2023 Bass Pro Shops Night Race was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 16, 2023, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 500 laps on the .533-mile (0.858 km) short track, it was the 29th race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, the third race of the Playoffs, and the final race of the Round of 16.

## Report
### Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes the driver ineligible for series driver points.
* (P) denotes playoff driver.
* (OP) denotes owner’s playoffs car.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick (P) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Kyle Busch (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano (P) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell (P) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Carson Hocevar (i) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Ryan Newman | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice

Kyle Larson was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 15.186 seconds and a speed of 126.353 mph (203.345 km/h).

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.186 | 126.353 |
| 2 | 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 15.262 | 125.724 |
| 3 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 15.333 | 125.142 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Christopher Bell scored the pole for the race with a time 15.109 of and a speed of 126.997 mph (204.382 km/h).

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 15.111 | 15.109 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 15.062 | 15.117 |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.107 | 15.187 |
| 4 | 34 | Michael McDowell (P) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 15.189 | 15.202 |
| 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 15.220 | 15.210 |
| 6 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 15.106 | 15.233 |
| 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.338 | 15.239 |
| 8 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 15.160 | 15.239 |
| 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 15.305 | 15.241 |
| 10 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.255 | 15.274 |
| 11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 15.230 | — |
| 12 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 15.245 | — |
| 13 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.252 | — |
| 14 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 15.264 | — |
| 15 | 8 | Kyle Busch (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.282 | — |
| 16 | 42 | Carson Hocevar (i) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 15.293 | — |
| 17 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 15.306 | — |
| 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.312 | — |
| 19 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 15.343 | — |
| 20 | 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 15.345 | — |
| 21 | 4 | Kevin Harvick (P) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 15.354 | — |
| 22 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 15.362 | — |
| 23 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 15.365 | — |
| 24 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 15.367 | — |
| 25 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 15.372 | — |
| 26 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 15.372 | — |
| 27 | 51 | Ryan Newman | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 15.414 | — |
| 28 | 22 | Joey Logano (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 15.416 | — |
| 29 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 15.427 | — |
| 30 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 15.433 | — |
| 31 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 15.494 | — |
| 32 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.538 | — |
| 33 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.538 | — |
| 34 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.610 | — |
| 35 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 15.793 | — |
| 36 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.942 | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race
### Race results
#### Stage results

Stage One Laps: 125
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 6 |
| 6 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 125
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 42 | Carson Hocevar (i) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 6 | 34 | Michael McDowell (P) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 250
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 47 |
| 2 | 36 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 46 |
| 3 | 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 54 |
| 4 | 20 | 17 | Chris Buescher (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 500 | 37 |
| 5 | 8 | 54 | Ty Gibbs (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 500 | 42 |
| 6 | 4 | 34 | Michael McDowell (P) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 500 | 36 |
| 7 | 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott (OP) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 31 |
| 8 | 6 | 6 | Brad Keselowski (P) | RFK Racing | Ford | 500 | 33 |
| 9 | 3 | 24 | William Byron (P) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 38 |
| 10 | 25 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 27 |
| 11 | 16 | 42 | Carson Hocevar (i) | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 499 | 0 |
| 12 | 17 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 499 | 27 |
| 13 | 13 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 499 | 24 |
| 14 | 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 499 | 31 |
| 15 | 12 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 499 | 28 |
| 16 | 30 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 499 | 21 |
| 17 | 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 499 | 20 |
| 18 | 26 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 499 | 19 |
| 19 | 5 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 498 | 20 |
| 20 | 15 | 8 | Kyle Busch (P) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 17 |
| 21 | 24 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 16 |
| 22 | 11 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 498 | 15 |
| 23 | 23 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 498 | 19 |
| 24 | 31 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet | 497 | 13 |
| 25 | 10 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 497 | 21 |
| 26 | 35 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 495 | 0 |
| 27 | 14 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 495 | 10 |
| 28 | 32 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 495 | 9 |
| 29 | 21 | 4 | Kevin Harvick (P) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 495 | 8 |
| 30 | 22 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 491 | 7 |
| 31 | 34 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | 490 | 0 |
| 32 | 29 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 488 | 5 |
| 33 | 33 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 263 | 4 |
| 34 | 28 | 22 | Joey Logano (P) | Team Penske | Ford | 262 | 3 |
| 35 | 19 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 261 | 2 |
| 36 | 27 | 51 | Ryan Newman | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 260 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 10 among 6 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 6 for 53 laps
* Red flags: 1 for 14 minutes
* Time of race: 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 20 seconds
* Average speed: 94.99 miles per hour (152.87 km/h)

## Media
### Television

USA covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, Dillon Welch and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
USA :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Kim Coon Dillon Welch Marty Snider |

### Radio

PRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field races down the frontstretch. Rob Albright called the race when the field races down the backstretch. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Alan Cavanna, and Wendy Venturini handled the duties on pit lane.
PRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Backstretch: Rob Albright | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Alan Cavanna Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 3 | 1 | William Byron | 3,036 |
| 11 | 2 | Martin Truex Jr. | 3,036 (–0) |
| | 3 | Denny Hamlin | 3,032 (–4) |
| 3 | 4 | Kyle Larson | 3,023 (–13) |
| 4 | 5 | Chris Buescher | 3,021 (–15) |
| 1 | 6 | Kyle Busch | 3,019 (–17) |
| 3 | 7 | Christopher Bell | 3,016 (–20) |
| 6 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | 3,014 (–22) |
| 1 | 9 | Ross Chastain | 3,011 (–25) |
| 5 | 10 | Brad Keselowski | 3,011 (–25) |
| 5 | 11 | Ryan Blaney | 3,008 (–28) |
| 2 | 12 | Bubba Wallace | 3,000 (–36) |
| 2 | 13 | Joey Logano | 2,071 (–965) |
| 2 | 14 | Kevin Harvick | 2,071 (–965) |
| | 15 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 2,068 (–968) |
| | 16 | Michael McDowell | 2,059 (–977) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 1,070 |
| 2 | Toyota | 1,007 (–63) |
| 3 | Ford | 994 (–76) |