This week in NASCAR is an important one for all three series – the Craftsman Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series – when they travel to the Tennessee hills of Bristol Motor Speedway. For the Truck Series it is the second race in the first round of the playoffs. In the Xfinity Series it is the final race in the regular season. And for the Cup Series, it is the final race in the first round of the playoffs where four drivers will be eliminated.
But the weekend also means special guest drivers. After his win at Watkins Glen International last weekend, Connor Zilisch will race in the Craftsman Truck Series and on Friday night, not one but two Earnhardt’s will be running in the Xfinity Series race. The 17 year old driver William Sawalich also returns to the Truck Series for his fifth Truck Series race of the season. IndyCar driver Marco Andretti will be making his seventh start of the season.
After retiring from full time racing, NASCAR Hall of Fame and 15 time most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr has chosen Thunder Valley for his only start this season.
Thirty-eight teams have signed up to run a race in the Truck Series for 36 starting spots and 39 teams have signed up to race in the Xfinity Series for 38 starting spots. All of the drivers – 37 – listed to start in the Cup Series race will start the race.