NASCAR champions Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. were among the first four drivers eliminated from the playoffs at Bristol Motor Speedway. Kyle Larson secured an effortless victory at the event. The playoff’s first elimination round included Denny Hamlin, Truex, Keselowski, and Harrison Burton below the elimination cutline. Hamlin finished fourth without much worry, while Burton, who joined the playoffs with a surprise win at Daytona, struggled to advance. Keselowski and Truex couldn’t salvage their playoff hopes, with Truex receiving a penalty for speeding and Keselowski lacking pace on the track.

As Larson dominated by leading 462 out of 500 laps, setting a record since 1977 for Hendrick Motorsports, Daniel Suarez claimed the final spot in the next playoff round, narrowly beating Ty Gibbs by 11 points. Additional drivers advancing to the next round include Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Austin Cindric, and Alex Bowman. The entire Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet lineup and all three Ford drivers from Team Penske advanced, but Toyota lost two JGR entries, and Ford saw Keselowski and Burton eliminated.

Corey LaJoie, informed earlier by Spire Motorsports about being replaced next year, aimed to finish his final season strongly before an unexpected driver swap with Rick Ware Racing. LaJoie will replace Justin Haley at RWR while Haley joins Spire. The upcoming race at Kansas Speedway will kick off the second round of the playoffs, a track where Tyler Reddick won last fall and Larson emerged victorious in May.