Bristol Motor Speedway -
RaceWeather Forecast
Bristol Motor Speedway
NASCAR Weekend Schedule
Friday, September 18
2:00–2:50 PM — NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice
3:05–4:00 PM — NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying
4:30–5:30 PM — NASCAR Cup Series Practice
5:40–6:30 PM — NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying
7:30 PM — NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race — 300 laps / 159.9 miles (CW)
Saturday, September 19
7:30 PM — NASCAR Cup Series Race — 500 laps / 266.5 miles
All times EDT
Bristol Motor Speedway
NASCAR Forecast Discussion
A weakening upper ridge will allow moisture and instability to increase across northeast Tennessee this weekend, while temperatures remain well above normal. Friday and Saturday will be hot and humid, with highs in the upper 80s and scattered afternoon thunderstorms possible. Storm coverage should remain hit-or-miss rather than widespread, but any storm could produce brief heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds.
Friday’s storm chance is around 30%, mainly after 2 PM, with activity tending to diminish during the evening. Saturday carries a somewhat higher afternoon storm chance near 40%, with a few showers or storms potentially lingering into the evening around the Cup race.
Severe weather is not currently expected.
More about Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway is one of American motorsports’ most distinctive venues, centered on the high-banked, 0.533-mile concrete oval known as “The Last Great Colosseum.”
Located in Bristol, Tennessee, the compact layout, towering grandstands and enclosed bowl create an unusually intense atmosphere for NASCAR racing and major special events. The broader complex also includes Bristol Dragway, the historic quarter-mile strip known as “Thunder Valley,” where the surrounding hills amplify the sound of NHRA competition. The dragway hosts the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals along with sportsman, junior dragster and other racing programs; in 2026, its concrete racing surface from the starting line through the eighth-mile was replaced.
Together, the oval, dragstrip, camping areas and extensive event infrastructure make Bristol a year-round motorsports destination capable of supporting everything from NASCAR weekends to national-level drag racing.
To learn about sponsorship opportunities in NHRA and NASCAR at Bristol Motor Speedway , visit EC Sports Management. Click here to contact their sales team.