NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 is set
In a topsy-turvy Saturday night showdown, four drivers were cut from championship eligibility in the first elimination of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Christopher Bell survived a 500-lap gauntlet with significant tire wear — and a last-lap bump from Brad Keselowski — to win Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bell was among the dozen drivers advancing to the Playoffs’ Round of 12, the next three-race portion of the 10-race postseason.
RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: Bristol
The clock ran out on the title hopes of Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry. All four entered the Round of 16 below the provisional elimination line.
Berry was the first to be cut, stopping after 75 laps when flames from the right-front filled the cockpit of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. He ended the three Round of 16 races with three last-place finishes. Van Gisbergen spun twice, and he, Bowman and Dillon were unable to offset their points deficit on Bristol’s high banks, while Austin Cindric held on for the final Round of 12 berth.
Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin had already advanced with victories earlier in the round; Briscoe won the playoff opener at Darlington Raceway and Hamlin prevailed at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
Three more drivers locked up their spots in the next round with mid-race clinchers at Bristol. Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace — the top points-earners without wins after two Round of 16 races — advanced at the end of Stage 1. Ryan Blaney sealed a Round of 12 berth after the second stage.
Below is the list of drivers for the Round of 12, with order based on the reset points.
NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 field:
— 1. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 3,034 points
— 2. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 3,032 points
— 3. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 3,032 points
— 4. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 3,028 points
— 5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford, 3,027 points
— 6. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 3,018 points
— 7. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 3,013 points
— 8. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota, 3,009 points
— 9. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford, 3,008 points
— 10. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford, 3,007 points
— 11. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, 3,007 points
— 12. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, 3,006 points