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NASCAR Cup Series: Top 5 races to watch in 2020

By Marty Czekala

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 10: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, takes the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway on November 10, 2019 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 10: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, takes the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway on November 10, 2019 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 17: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 STANLEY Toyota (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 17: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 STANLEY Toyota (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

5. Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race

  • Bristol Motor Speedway
  • Race 29/36 (third race in the Round of 16)
  • Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

I honestly do not know why this race is less hyped than others this year.

Let’s break this down into basic terms. It is one of the biggest short track races of the year — at the Last Great Colosseum — at night. And it is now a cutoff race in the playoffs. Plus, combine it with the new low downforce package NASCAR announced last month.

Folks, get your popcorn ready for this!

This race is a sleeper for many people, but not for me! Imagine if last year’s Bristol Night Race was a cutoff race in the playoffs.

Take Denny Hamlin and assume he is in a must-win situation. Add in Matt DiBenedetto, who wouldn’t have been in the playoffs, in a battle for what would be his first career win. Can you imagine how much more intense that battle would be?

Can you also imagine seeing someone making a similar move to the one that Ryan Newman made at Phoenix Raceway so he could get into the Championship 4 back in 2014, but at Bristol?

I can guarantee you that sparks will fly and tempers will flare to get into the round of 12!

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