Nashville's Racing Night: Drivers' Big Opportunities and Challenges

A major NASCAR event is about to kick off at Nashville Superspeedway. The stakes are high for several drivers as the second half of the regular season starts. One driver to watch is Chase Briscoe. He's got a shot at redemption after a disappointing performance in the recent Coca-Cola 600. Briscoe had a rough time in the last race. He started on pole but ended up in third place. He led for just one lap and didn't score many points. A pit road penalty for an uncontrolled tire early in the race threw off his entire strategy. This shows how a small issue can affect the whole race. The Nashville race is shorter, at 399 miles, but every mile counts. Briscoe needs to turn things around. He's been struggling all season, ranking last among playoff contenders in stage points. Eight drivers outside the playoff zone have scored more points than him. Briscoe knows he needs to maximize his stage points, especially since he starts on pole again. Another driver facing a tough time is Bubba Wallace. His recent races have been tough. He's finished 33rd or worse in the last three points races, dropping him from seventh to 12th in the standings. But Wallace is staying positive. He's focusing on what his team has done all season, not just the recent setbacks. Starting 12th, he has a chance to score points in the first stage, which could boost his morale and performance. Kyle Larson is another driver to keep an eye on. He's got an impressive average finish of 4. 5 at Nashville and has placed in the top 10 in all four Cup races there. But he qualified 28th, his worst starting spot in years. How quickly he can move up the pack will be interesting to see. Can he score points in the first stage? That's the question on everyone's mind. The top 32 drivers in points after tonight's race will secure their spot in the in-season tournament starting later this month in Atlanta. Brad Keselowski is currently in the 32nd spot. He's had a tough season, with his recent fifth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 being his first top 10 of the year. Starting sixth tonight, he has a chance to improve his points and secure his spot in the tournament. The winner of the tournament takes home 1 million dollars.