Last weekend, NASCAR headed to Bristol Motor Speedway short track to race under the lights. Thursday saw the trucks hit the track, Friday night saw the drama of the Xfinity Series take center stage, while Saturday night saw the Cup Series continue to march towards the series finale in November.

Known for excitement and drama by racing at night, here are some drivers who made an unintended impact.

UNOH 200

Race Winner: Layne Riggs

Ben Rhodes (#99 Ford): The 2023 series champion, who is usually a contender has struggled a bit as 2025 has marches on. Bristol gave Rhodes a chance to make up some lost time, collecting a runner-up finish after starting 19th.

Rhodes and his ThorSport crew have fallen victim a bit to ThorSport Racing struggling as a group to find speed all season. Rhodes’ second place effort was his best finish since finishing 4th twice (Michigan and Lime Rock).

Connor Mosack (#81 Chevrolet): Mosack moved to the trucks full-time as a rookie in 2025 after showing potential the last two seasons. The McAnally-Hilgemann Racing newcomer has had a roller coaster of results throughout the season, but Bristol was a strong performance with a 7th-place run after starting 23rd.

Bristol was Mosack’s first top-ten run since finishing 6th in Pocono. Mosack currently sits 14th in the standings with a first-year team.

Andres Perez De Lara (#44 Chevrolet): Leaving Spire Motorsports late in the season, series rookie Perez joined Niece Motorsports to finish out the season. Perez and the #44 team have gelled surprisingly fast, and that continued in Bristol with an 8th-place finish. 

Since joining the 44 team in Richmond several weeks ago, has not finished worse then 21st.

Photo Credit: Jayski and Niece Motorsports

Food City 300

Race Winner: Aric Almirola

Jeremy Clements (#51 Chevrolet): Clements, a long-time owner/driver in the series has made a career of doing the most with the least. Bristol was a shining example of this, as Clements drove his JCR entry to a 9th-place effort after starting 26th.

Clements and his JCR crew have struggled a bit in 2025, but Clements has collected three other top ten finishes in Daytona, Rockingham, and Atlanta.

Photo Credit: Jayski and Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Dean Thompson (#26 Toyota): Thompson joined Sam Hunt Racing this season as truck series graduate to contend for top rookie honors in a heavy Xfinity Series rookie crop. Thompson was quick to adapt, and Bristol continued that trend with a 12th-place finish.

Thompson’s rookie run in Xfinity has been a nice surprise this season, with six top-ten finishes.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen (#11 Chevrolet): ARCA standout Queen made his Xfinity debut in Bristol, being tapped to drive Kaulig Racing’s #11 entry. Entering a late season rotation of drivers in the 11, Queen had a quiet but solid day and finished 20th in his debut.

Queen, who drives for Chevrolet-backed Pinnacle Racing Group in ARCA, has dominated with six wins in 17 starts so far in 2025.

Bass Pro Shops Night Race

Race Winner: Christopher Bell

Brad Keselowski (#6 Ford): With the struggles of annual contender Keselowski well-noted this season, Bristol provided a glimpse of what the RFK Racing team is still capable of, with Keselowski leading 33 laps before finishing second.

Keselowski and his #6 crew have hit a late season surge of momentum, leap-frogging from 29th in standings (late-summer) to 16th leaving Bristol.

Corey Heim (#67 Toyota): “Heim Time” has dominated the truck series this season, and has slowly started to make his way into the Cup series. Bristol was big shot in the arm for the Toyota prospect, driving 23XI Racing’s part-time entry to a 6th-place finish.

Heim has three other Cup starts this season, resulting in runs of 13th (Kansas), 37th (Nashville), and 29th (Richmond). 

Photo Credit: Jayski and 23XI Racing

Justin Haley (#7 Chevrolet): Haley’s 2025 season since rejoining Spire Motorsports has not quite gone as expected, but Haley has had a bit of a surge in recent weeks. Bristol continued that momentum, with the Spire driver collecting a 13th-place finish (he started 17th).

Heading into Bristol, Haley previously finished 3rd in Daytona a handful of weeks ago.