See the latest odds, top betting picks, and expert predictions for Saturday’s NASCAR showdown in Bristol, Tennessee.
See the latest odds, top betting picks, and expert predictions for Saturday’s NASCAR showdown in Bristol, Tennessee.
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs head to Tennessee for 500 laps of elbows-out chaos in the 2025 Bristol Night Race on Saturday, September 13, with the action set to start at 7:30pm ET.
Bristol Motor Speedway’s 0.533-mile concrete bowl is all rhythm, traffic management, and tire discipline — especially with teams expecting a quicker-falloff tire that should reward cars that can work both grooves over long runs.
Form lines point straight to the big names up front. Kyle Larson has dominated Bristol recently with wins last fall and again this spring, Denny Hamlin carries momentum from Gateway along with four career victories at The Last Great Colosseum, and Chase Briscoe continues his playoff surge after a Darlington win and a Gateway runner-up.
With four drivers set to be cut, fans can expect strategy swings, heavy lapped traffic, and classic Bristol fireworks under the lights — a perfect stage for bettors sizing up the market at the top sports betting sites.
Beyond the headliners, several dark horses lurk with upset potential. Ryan Blaney has quietly built consistency despite past struggles here, while Christopher Bell continues to stack top-10 finishes at Bristol and feels overdue for a breakthrough on concrete. Chase Elliott, fresh off a podium at Gateway, has history at this track and could be poised for another deep playoff run if he avoids Bristol’s notorious chaos.
With desperation high for those below the cutline, the mix of playoff favorites and underdogs sets the stage for one of the most dramatic races of the season.
More odds available at BetOnline
Larson’s Bristol résumé in the Next Gen era is elite, with back-to-back wins on concrete (Night Race 2024 and spring 2025) and 946 laps led across his last five starts there. Hendrick’s short-track package was unstoppable here last year, when he swept both stages and dominated 462 of 500 laps. Already safe above the cut, Larson can go all-out for another trophy at +180 odds with BetOnline.
Bristol remains one of Hamlin’s strongest tracks, with four career wins (2012, 2019, 2023, 2024) and fresh momentum after sealing a Gateway victory. Joe Gibbs Racing’s long-run balance is usually dialed in at The Last Great Colosseum, and Hamlin’s ability to adjust lines through traffic makes him one of the safest podium bets in the field at +105 odds with BetOnline.
Briscoe’s playoff form is peaking with a Darlington win, a Gateway runner-up, and steady progress at Bristol (P4 in the spring, P8 last fall). His short-flat strength should carry over, and while he may not have Larson’s or Hamlin’s dominance, a top-five ticket offers value at +120 odds with BetOnline.