NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying Report - Bristol

September 12, 2025

Bristol Night Race
Bristol, Tennessee – September 12, 2025

Ryan Blaney, driver, No. 12 Menards/Sylvania Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Austin Cindric, driver, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Joey Logano, driver, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse

THUNDER VALLEY: NASCAR Cup Series teams rolled into the storied Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday as the stage is set for the final race in the Round of 16 of the NASCAR Playoffs, the always-thrilling Bristol Night Race. Known for its high-banked half-mile bullring action, Bristol has been a successful venue for Team Penske, with 14 Cup Series victories at the Tennessee short track. The first elimination race of the postseason will decide which 12 drivers advance, and Team Penske's trio of Ford Mustang Dark Horses enter the weekend above the cutline following last week's event in St. Louis. Ryan Blaney sits fifth in the standings (+42), Joey Logano holds 10th (+21), and Austin Cindric occupies the final transfer spot in 12th (+11). Blaney and Cindric will both look to secure their first career Bristol Cup Series victories, while Logano, a two-time winner of the famed night race (2014, 2015), aims to add another trophy from "The Last Great Colosseum" to his collection.

BLANEY SAID IT: "I'm proud of our lap and proud to be starting on the front row. I wish I could have had it back and I’m sure a lot of guys say that. I just got tight in three and four. I feel like my first lap I got through one and two pretty good, and probably got a little greedy into three, a little too high of an arc, a little too much speed and then I tried to jump back to the gas quick and I got tight and I kind of had to burp it for a second. I probably lost a little bit there, but, overall, it was a good day. I think our race car is really good, too, over the long haul and I’m just looking forward to tomorrow night. Hopefully, we can run a good 500 laps and keep up with the racetrack and see what we can do."

RACE DAY RUNDOWN: The green flag is set to wave just after 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on USA Network, with live radio coverage available on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).