The combination of the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway and a new aero package proved tricky for NASCAR Cup Series drivers Sunday night in Music City.
While Denny Hamlin bounced back from a start violation at the beginning of the Cracker Barrel 400 and survived the chaos around him to win at the Tennessee track, a few of his competitors also found some good fortune in the Volunteer State.
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In contrast, others need a lucky break as the second half of the regular season kicks into gear, with the Cup Series heading to Michigan International Speedway on Sunday to compete in the FireKeepers Casino 400 (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
RELATED: Race results | Nashville photos
THREE UP ⬆️
1. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Started: 4th
Finished: 2nd
What happened: For the second straight week, Bell was the bridesmaid after coming up short of his first Cup Series victory of the 2026 season. Coming to the white flag, the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pilot was the race leader. Then, he engaged in a three-wide battle with teammates Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe entering Turns 1 and 2. On the exit of Turn 2, Hamlin slid up in front of Bell and held off the No. 20 Toyota for the win.
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What’s next: Although Bell might feel disappointment in back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Cup Series, there is good reason for the No. 20 team to believe that momentum is finally on their side. Before a pair of second-place finishes the last couple of weeks at Charlotte and Nashville, Bell was riding a streak of finishing 17th or worse in five straight races. However, looking at Bell’s history at Michigan, it might be a challenging day in the Irish Hills for the Norman, Oklahoma, native. In seven career Cup Series starts, Bell has never finished in the top 10 at Michigan, with a best finish of 13th in three of those starts.
Christopher Bell drives at Nashville.
2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
Started: 15th
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Finished: 4th
What happened: Toward the end of the Cracker Barrel 400, crew chief Mike Kelley made the call to bring Stenhouse’s No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet down pit road for a set of fresh Goodyear tires. Then, on the final restart, Stenhouse made good use of the new rubber by sailing into the top five as the checkered flag waved Sunday night.
What’s next: Despite picking up his best finish of the 2026 season at a non-drafting style track in Music City, it might be tougher to replicate that result at Michigan. In his last 12 Michigan starts, the 38-year-old driver has not finished higher than 12th. Stenhouse has only one career top-10 finish in the Irish Hills, and that was nearly a decade ago (June 2017).
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drives at Nashville.
3. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Started: 11th
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Finished: 9th
What happened: Ryan Bergenty, Smith’s crew chief, tried an alternate strategy by attempting to stretch the No. 38 Ford’s fuel until the end. Unfortunately, drivers with fresher tires caught up to Smith before a late-race yellow. Although he was no longer in contention for the win, the caution allowed Smith to come down pit road for a fresh set of Goodyear tires for the final restart that ultimately resulted in a ninth-place finish.
What’s next: After moving into the top 20 in the Cup Series standings, Smith could continue the upward trajectory at Michigan. The No. 38 driver has only two career Michigan starts at the premier level, with both visits resulting in seventh-place finishes. With five top 10s this year and three top 10s in the last five Cup races, Smith might keep the good times rolling.
Zane Smith drives at Nashville.
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Started: 8th
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Finished: 30th
What happened: Byron was a victim of a Lap 205 incident when Carson Hocevar and Chris Buescher made contact, sending the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford up the track in Turns 1 and 2 into Bubba Wallace, with Byron having nowhere to go as he ran into the back of the No. 23 Toyota. This damage affected the rest of Byron’s night as he limped his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to a 30th-place finish.
What’s next: In the last five Michigan races, Byron has taken the runner-up position twice. This could be a place for the No. 24 team to start building momentum after finishing 30th or worse in four of the last seven Cup Series races.
William Byron drives at Nashville.
2. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Started: 28th
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Finished: 36th
What happened: Preece entered the night in Music City with the last spot in the provisional Chase standings and left the 1.33-mile Tennessee track one spot out, 17th in the standings and two points below the cutline. The No. 60 RFK Racing driver had a piece from a brake rotor puncture his radiator, forcing a DNF after 90 laps.
What’s next: Michigan comes at the right time for Preece, who has two top 10s at the 2-mile oval and has finished 11th or better in his last two trips to the Irish Hills. RFK traditionally runs well at Michigan, and given the extra motivation to perform in Ford’s backyard, Preece could slide his way back into the top 16 in points.
Ryan Preece drives at Nashville.
3. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Started: 35th
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Finished: 37th
What happened: For the second consecutive week, Chastain picked up a DNF and continued his downward slide in the Cup Series standings. At Charlotte, Chastain’s race came to an end after contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. sent his No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet spinning into the inside wall on the backstretch. One week later at Nashville, a brake rotor failure on Chastain’s car sent him hard into the Turn 1 wall at the 1.33-mile concrete track.
What’s next: If Chastain wants to turn his luck around, it may or may not come at Michigan. In his last four Michigan starts with Trackhouse, Chastain has two top 10s and two finishes of 24th or worse. In the last six Cup Series races, Chastain has finished 26th or worse five times. The Trackhouse driver really needs to be on the right side of the equation in the Irish Hills if he wants to get himself in a better position to contend for a spot in The Chase later in the summer.
Ross Chastain drives at Nashville.
