Short tracks always promise action, but few could have imagined the Bristol race would be so chaotic and caution-filled that even the best strategists were left guessing. Christopher Bell surged to a thrilling win, capping off an unforgettable Round of 16 sweep for Joe Gibbs Racing and reminding fans why Bristol thrives on drama. But beyond the checkered flag, tire wear and relentless yellow flags kept shaking up the running order, turning the event into a marathon of survival and adaptation.

When the dust settled, familiar faces had been sent home from the playoffs, setting up an intense Round of 12. In the aftermath, drivers, teams, and fans alike were left debating: did NASCAR’s approach amplify or hinder the night’s intensity? The answer, as Denny Hamlin soon made clear, was anything but unanimous.

The most chaotic Bristol in recent memory

Denny Hamlin’s exasperation echoed what many in the paddock and stands were thinking: “We ran a lot of caution.” The 2025 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway featured 14 cautions – a number not seen here in over two decades. Yet what truly set this running apart was the astounding 137 laps completed under yellow. Yes, 137 of the total 500 (over 20%)! This set a new NASCAR Modern Era record for caution laps, totalling well over two hours at reduced speed.

A standout incident Hamlin referenced was the Chase Elliott “blow-up.” With smoke billowing out of Elliott’s Hendrick Chevrolet, oil coated the racing surface and triggered a lengthy track cleanup. “Our cautions are Chase Elliott blew up and we beached the whole track,” Hamlin explained to Jared Allen on the Actions Detrimental podcast. He was clearly frustrated by the way extended yellow periods destroyed the race rhythm.

But not all slowdowns were due to mechanical failures. “They were wrecks. It was the most physical short track or race in general, I’d been in in quite some time,” Hamlin further explained. From a multi-car tangle with Cole Custer and Bubba Wallace in the closing laps to Alex Bowman colliding with Riley Herbst in Turn 2 on Lap 100, the race was full of such incidents. They revealed just how brutal this Bristol night was.

For fans and drivers, the barrage of cautions created a sense of perpetual reset, disrupting strategies and sapping momentum. In a race with more yellow than green, adapting on the fly was critical. And only the most flexible teams survived. As the sport debates how to boost action while managing safety and tire limits, the 2025 Bristol event will be remembered as a marathon of restarts and resilience.

Denny Hamlin reacts to JGR’s dominance

Denny Hamlin isn’t ready to crown Joe Gibbs Racing as the favorite to win the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship. On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin addressed JGR’s impressive sweep of the Round of 16, where Chase Briscoe, Hamlin, and Christopher Bell each picked up wins at Darlington, Gateway, and Bristol, respectively.

All three JGR drivers are now safely locked into the Round of 8, but Hamlin stressed that early-round success doesn’t guarantee a title. “We reset every round,” Hamlin emphasized, recalling a post-race conversation with Fox’s Bob Pockrass. “The championship runs through Phoenix. Doesn’t run through JGR. It runs through Phoenix. It’s one race, and anything can happen.”

Hamlin warned that the playoff format is unpredictable, pointing out how past champions have emerged unexpectedly, even without dominating during the season. While he acknowledged JGR’s speed and strength, he made it clear that the team still needs to survive two more rounds to even have a shot at the championship finale.

“These next two rounds got some bumpy race tracks in them,” Hamlin said, noting that consistency will be crucial. “You’ve got to get there first.” Despite his caution, Hamlin is in a strong position himself. With a series-leading five wins this year, he looks like one of the favorites. At least on paper.

But as Hamlin reminded listeners, nothing is guaranteed under NASCAR’s playoff system. The only thing that truly matters is performing at Phoenix, where one race decides everything. For now, Hamlin seems focused on keeping expectations in check while maintaining JGR’s momentum heading into the Round of 8.