The mix of the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway and a brand new aero bundle proved tough for NASCAR Cup Collection drivers Sunday night time in Music Metropolis.
Whereas Denny Hamlin bounced again from a begin violation at the start of the Cracker Barrel 400 and survived the chaos round him to win on the Tennessee observe, a number of of his opponents additionally discovered some success within the Volunteer State.
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In distinction, others want a fortunate break because the second half of the common season kicks into gear, with the Cup Collection heading to Michigan Worldwide Speedway on Sunday to compete within the FireKeepers On line casino 400 (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
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THREE UP ⬆️
1. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Began: 4th
Completed: 2nd
What occurred: For the second straight week, Bell was the bridesmaid after developing wanting his first Cup Collection victory of the 2026 season. Coming to the white flag, the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pilot was the race chief. Then, he engaged in a three-wide battle with teammates Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe coming into Turns 1 and a pair of. On the exit of Flip 2, Hamlin slid up in entrance of Bell and held off the No. 20 Toyota for the win.
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What’s subsequent: Though Bell would possibly really feel in back-to-back runner-up finishes within the Cup Collection, there may be good cause for the No. 20 staff to consider that momentum is lastly on their aspect. Earlier than a pair of second-place finishes the final couple of weeks at Charlotte and Nashville, Bell was driving a streak of ending seventeenth or worse in 5 straight races. Nonetheless, taking a look at Bell’s historical past at Michigan, it could be a difficult day within the Irish Hills for the Norman, Oklahoma, native. In seven profession Cup Collection begins, Bell has by no means completed within the high 10 at Michigan, with a greatest end of thirteenth in three of these begins.
Christopher Bell drives at Nashville.
2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
Began: fifteenth
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Completed: 4th
What occurred: Towards the top of the Cracker Barrel 400, crew chief Mike Kelley made the decision to convey Stenhouse’s No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet down pit highway for a set of contemporary Goodyear tires. Then, on the ultimate restart, Stenhouse made good use of the brand new rubber by crusing into the highest 5 because the checkered flag waved Sunday night time.
What’s subsequent: Regardless of selecting up his greatest end of the 2026 season at a non-drafting fashion observe in Music Metropolis, it could be more durable to copy that outcome at Michigan. In his final 12 Michigan begins, the 38-year-old driver has not completed increased than twelfth. Stenhouse has just one profession top-10 end within the Irish Hills, and that was almost a decade in the past (June 2017).
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drives at Nashville.
3. Zane Smith, No. 38 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Began: eleventh
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Completed: ninth
What occurred: Ryan Bergenty, Smith’s crew chief, tried an alternate technique by making an attempt to stretch the No. 38 Ford’s gasoline till the top. Sadly, drivers with more energizing tires caught as much as Smith earlier than a late-race yellow. Though he was now not in competition for the win, the warning allowed Smith to return down pit highway for a contemporary set of Goodyear tires for the ultimate restart that in the end resulted in a ninth-place end.
What’s subsequent: After shifting into the highest 20 within the Cup Collection standings, Smith may proceed the upward trajectory at Michigan. The No. 38 driver has solely two profession Michigan begins on the premier stage, with each visits leading to seventh-place finishes. With 5 high 10s this 12 months and three high 10s within the final 5 Cup races, Smith would possibly preserve the nice instances rolling.
Zane Smith drives at Nashville.
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Began: eighth
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Completed: Thirtieth
What occurred: Byron was a sufferer of a when Carson Hocevar and Chris Buescher made contact, sending the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford up the observe in Turns 1 and a pair of into Bubba Wallace, with Byron having nowhere to go as he bumped into the again of the No. 23 Toyota. This injury affected the remainder of Byron’s night time as he limped his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to a Thirtieth-place end.
What’s subsequent: Within the final 5 Michigan races, Byron has taken the runner-up place twice. This might be a spot for the No. 24 staff to start out constructing momentum after ending Thirtieth or worse in 4 of the final seven Cup Collection races.
William Byron drives at Nashville.
2. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Began: twenty eighth
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Completed: thirty sixth
What occurred: Preece entered the night time in Music Metropolis with the final spot within the provisional Chase standings and left the 1.33-mile Tennessee observe one spot out, seventeenth within the standings and two factors under the cutline. The No. 60 RFK Racing driver had a chunk from a brake rotor puncture his radiator, forcing a DNF after 90 laps.
What’s subsequent: Michigan comes on the proper time for Preece, who has two high 10s on the 2-mile oval and has completed eleventh or higher in his final two journeys to the Irish Hills. RFK historically runs nicely at Michigan, and given the additional motivation to carry out in Ford’s yard, Preece may slide his method again into the highest 16 in factors.
Ryan Preece drives at Nashville.
3. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Began: thirty fifth
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Completed: thirty seventh
What occurred: For the second consecutive week, Chastain picked up a DNF and continued his downward slide within the Cup Collection standings. At Charlotte, Chastain’s race got here to an finish after with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. despatched his No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet spinning into the within wall on the backstretch. One week later at Nashville, a on Chastain’s automotive despatched him onerous into the Flip 1 wall on the 1.33-mile concrete observe.
What’s subsequent: If Chastain needs to show his luck round, it could or might not come at Michigan. In his final 4 Michigan begins with Trackhouse, Chastain has two high 10s and two finishes of twenty fourth or worse. Within the final six Cup Collection races, Chastain has completed twenty sixth or worse 5 instances. The Trackhouse driver actually must be on the suitable aspect of the equation within the Irish Hills if he needs to get himself in a greater place to contend for a spot in The Chase later in the summertime.
Ross Chastain drives at Nashville.
