Bristol Motor Speedway will crank up the stock car horsepower two times in 2026 to reach maximum tripleheader performance as the iconic Tennessee high-banked concrete oval will welcome back a pair of three-day NASCAR weekends, it was announced today by race officials.
The World’s Fastest Half-Mile will host its traditional NASCAR spring weekend with the headlining Food City 500 Cup Series race April 10-12. In September, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend will be held one week later than this year, on Sept. 17-19, and the popular race will again serve as the NASCAR Round of 16 Playoff elimination race.
Both weekends also will showcase the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Bristol spring weekend will open with the 250-lap CRAFTSMAN Trucks race on April 10 and be followed by the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series 300-lap event on April 11. In September, the CRAFTSMAN Trucks will feature Playoff action Thursday, Sept. 17 under the lights in the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics. The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series will again hold its Playoff opener at Bristol as the Food City 300 will take center stage Friday night, Sept. 18.
“At Bristol there’s nothing we love more than the opportunity to exceed expectations,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “By hosting three of NASCAR’s marquee series two times in 2026 — that’s plenty of chances to create more epic finishes and continue Bristol’s legacy as a track that creates legends. The Food City 500 in April is one of the first true short track gut-checks of the year, and our Bass Pro Shops Night Race Playoff weekend in September is where championship dreams either take flight or get shattered. The Last Great Colosseum isn’t for the faint of heart — and we are thrilled to see what 2026 brings.”
Bristol Motor Speedway continues to offer one of the best values in all of sports and entertainment. Tickets for children 12 and under are just $10 for the Food City 500 in April and the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in September. Kids tickets are free with a paid adult for all NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races. To purchase tickets to any of the scheduled races, weekend packages, parking and camping, fans should visit the Bristol Motor Speedway website, or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.
