The 2026 Food City 300 was a NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race held on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 300 laps on the concrete oval, it was the 27th race of the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season, the third race in the NASCAR Chase, and the 45th running of the event.
In a wild finish, Sheldon Creed, driving for Haas Factory Team, took advantage of fresher tires, and surged past William Sawalich for the lead on the final restart, leading the final three laps to earn his third career NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series win and his third of the season. Justin Allgaier won the first stage, leading 49 laps, while Carson Kvapil won the second stage, leading the race-high 156 laps. At race's end, Sawalich finished second, and Brent Crews finished third. Allgaier and Corey Day rounded out the top five, while Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, Parker Retzlaff, Dean Thompson, and Sammy Smith rounded out the top ten.
Report Background
The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all-concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.
Besides holding racing events, the track has hosted the Battle at Bristol, a college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Virginia Tech Hokies on September 10, 2016, and the MLB Speedway Classic, an MLB baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds from August 2-3, 2025.
Entry list
(R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points. (CC) denotes chase contender. (OC) denotes owners' chase contender car. DriverTeamMake00Sheldon Creed (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet0Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet1Carson Kvapil (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet02Ryan EllisYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet2Jesse Love (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet07Josh BilickiSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet7Justin Allgaier (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet8Sammy Smith (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet9Jake FinchJR MotorsportsChevrolet17Corey Day (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet18William SawalichJoe Gibbs RacingToyota19Brent Crews (OC) (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota20Brandon Jones (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota21Austin Hill (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet24Harrison BurtonSam Hunt RacingToyota26Dean ThompsonSam Hunt RacingToyota27Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet28Kyle SiegRSS RacingChevrolet31Blaine PerkinsJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet32Andrew PattersonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet38J. J. YeleyRSS RacingFord39Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet41Sam Mayer (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet42Logan BeardenYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet43Landon S. HuffmanSPS RacingChevrolet44Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet45Lavar Scott (R)Alpha Prime RacingChevrolet47Natalie Decker (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet48Patrick Staropoli (R)Big Machine RacingChevrolet51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet53Carson WareJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet54Taylor Gray (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota55David StarrJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet87Nick Sanchez (i)Peterson RacingChevrolet88Rajah Caruth (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet91Stefan Parsons (i)DGM RacingChevrolet92Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet96Anthony AlfredoViking MotorsportsChevrolet99Parker Retzlaff (CC)Viking MotorsportsChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice The first and only practice session was held on Friday, September 18, at 2:00 PM EST, and lasted for 50 minutes.
Brandon Jones, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.943 seconds, and a speed of .
Practice results Pos.DriverTeamMakeTime120Brandon Jones (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota15.943120.354219Brent Crews (OC) (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota15.971120.14332Jesse Love (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet15.972120.135Full practice results
Starting lineup Qualifying was originally scheduled to be held on Friday, September 18, at 3:05 PM EST, but was cancelled due to inclement weather. Jesse Love, driving for Richard Childress Racing, was awarded the pole position as a result of NASCAR's pandemic formula with a score of 1.900.
Landon S. Huffman was the only driver who failed to qualify.
Starting lineup Pos.DriverTeamMake12Jesse Love (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet200Sheldon Creed (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet341Sam Mayer (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet41Carson Kvapil (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet554Taylor Gray (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota619Brent Crews (OC) (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota799Parker Retzlaff (CC)Viking MotorsportsChevrolet88Sammy Smith (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet97Justin Allgaier (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet1088Rajah Caruth (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet1120Brandon Jones (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1226Dean ThompsonSam Hunt RacingToyota1327Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet1439Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet1528Kyle SiegRSS RacingChevrolet1618William SawalichJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1744Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet1848Patrick Staropoli (R)Big Machine RacingChevrolet1996Anthony AlfredoViking MotorsportsChevrolet2021Austin Hill (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet2131Blaine PerkinsJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet2292Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet2332Andrew PattersonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet2491Stefan Parsons (i)DGM RacingChevrolet250Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2617Corey Day (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2702Ryan EllisYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet2807Josh BilickiSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2951Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet3055David StarrJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet3142Logan BeardenYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet3245Lavar Scott (R)Alpha Prime RacingChevroletQualified by owner's points3387Nick Sanchez (i)Peterson RacingChevrolet3424Harrison BurtonSam Hunt RacingToyota3553Carson WareJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet369Jake FinchJR MotorsportsChevrolet3747Natalie Decker (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet3838J. J. YeleyRSS RacingFordFailed to qualify3943Landon S. HuffmanSPS RacingChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race
Race results
Stage Results Stage One Laps: 85 Pos.DriverTeamMakePts17Justin Allgaier (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet1021 Carson Kvapil (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet9319Brent Crews (OC) (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota842Jesse Love (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet7541Sam Mayer (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet668Sammy Smith (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet5754Taylor Gray (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota4800Sheldon Creed (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet3999Parker Retzlaff (CC)Viking MotorsportsChevrolet21017Corey Day (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1
Stage Two Laps: 85 Pos.DriverTeamMakePts11 Carson Kvapil (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet1027Justin Allgaier (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet932Jesse Love (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet8441Sam Mayer (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet7554Taylor Gray (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota6619Brent Crews (OC) (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota5717Corey Day (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4818William SawalichJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3900Sheldon Creed (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet21099Parker Retzlaff (CC)Viking MotorsportsChevrolet1
Final Stage Results Stage Three Laps: 135 FinStDriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPts1200Sheldon Creed (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet3053Running6021618William SawalichJoe Gibbs RacingToyota30513Running383619Brent Crews (OC) (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota3050Running47497Justin Allgaier (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet30549Running5252617Corey Day (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3050Running376554Taylor Gray (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota3050Running427341Sam Mayer (CC)Haas Factory TeamChevrolet3050Running438799Parker Retzlaff (CC)Viking MotorsportsChevrolet3050Running3291226Dean ThompsonSam Hunt RacingToyota3050Running281088Sammy Smith (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet3050Running3211369Jake FinchJR MotorsportsChevrolet3050Running26123424Harrison BurtonSam Hunt RacingToyota3050Running25131744Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet3050Running24142951Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet3050Running23151120Brandon Jones (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota3050Running22163387Nick Sanchez (i)Peterson RacingChevrolet3050Running01712Jesse Love (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet30584Running35183142Logan BeardenYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet3040Running19192332Andrew PattersonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet3030Running18201528Kyle SiegRSS RacingChevrolet3030Running17212491Stefan Parsons (i)DGM RacingChevrolet3020Running0222021Austin Hill (CC)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet3010Running15231088Rajah Caruth (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet3010Running142441Carson Kvapil (CC)JR MotorsportsChevrolet301156Running32251327Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet3010Running12261848Patrick Staropoli (R)Big Machine RacingChevrolet2990Running11272702Ryan EllisYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet2990Running10282292Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet2990Running9293553Carson WareJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet2980Running8301439Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet2970Accident7312807Josh BilickiSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2970Running6321996Anthony AlfredoViking MotorsportsChevrolet2900Running533250Garrett SmithleySS-Green Light RacingChevrolet2580Engine4342131Blaine PerkinsJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet2300Running3353055David StarrJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet2060Suspension2363245Lavar Scott (R)Alpha Prime RacingChevrolet1380Oil Cooler1373747Natalie Decker (i)Mike Harmon RacingChevrolet1190Transmission0383838J. J. YeleyRSS RacingFord1080Fuel Pump1Official race results
Race statistics
Lead changes: 8 among 5 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 5 for 47 laps Red flags: 0 Time of race: 1 hour, 53 minutes and 7 seconds Average speed:
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Sheldon Creed 2,235 2 Justin Allgaier 2,224 (–11) 3 Carson Kvapil 2,198 (–37) 4 Jesse Love 2,194 (–41) 5 Sam Mayer 2,157 (–78) 2 6 Corey Day 2,143 (–92) 7 Sammy Smith 2,143 (–92) 3 8 Taylor Gray 2,131 (–104) 3 9 Austin Hill 2,129 (–106) 10 Parker Retzlaff 2,124 (–111) 2 11 Brandon Jones 2,121 (–114) 12 Rajah Caruth 2,071 (–164)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 1,424 2 Toyota 931 (–493) 3 Ford 234 (–1,189) Note: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings.
References