The NASCAR Cup Series will make its return to “The Last Great Colosseum” this weekend for the iconic Bristol Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Saturday night (Sept. 19) will be the third race of The Chase and the final Saturday night Cup race in the 2026 season.
Here’s a closer look at the favorites going into the event, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook, that are discussed in further detail on the Through The Gears Frontstretch podcast.
With the lineup being set by the metric due to weather, last week’s winner at World Wide Technology Raceway, Kyle Larson, will start on the pole and is the favorite to win at +350.
Next, points leader Denny Hamlin is listed at +500 as he will attempt to hold the points lead over Larson and others while seeking that coveted first Cup Series championship.
In the spring race at Bristol this season, Ty Gibbs collected his first career Cup Series win in the event, and he returns sporting the Kyle Busch M&M’s colors with +550 odds to sweep the two races at the track in 2026.
Behind him comes Ryan Blaney, who leads the Ford brigade at +650 as he looks to rebound after his early exit at World Wide Technology Raceway last weekend due to brake failure.
Last year’s Bristol Night Race winner and this year’s Southern 500 winner, Christopher Bell, is next at +700. Bell trails his teammate Hamlin by only 18 points in the standings coming into the weekend.
Through the Gears host Michael Bellifemini previews this Saturday night showdown, under the lights as while revealing his fantasy lineup and parlay picks during the episode.
The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET with live TV coverage provided by USA Network.
Watch the whole show above or on YouTube. You can also listen to the audio version on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Michael Bellifemini joined Frontstretch in February 2026 as a contributor. Bellifemini was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated from Seton Hall University. He called Seton Hall men's and women's basketball games for their college radio station, 89.5 FM WSOU, and continues to broadcast in the area. Outside of covering NASCAR, Bellifemini is also an avid baseball, football, basketball, and hockey fan and enjoys watching different sports leagues on a daily basis.
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