THE LEFT TURN
NASCAR playoffs at Bristol: Bass Pro Shops Night Race preview, picks
Sep 16, 2022, 10:32 am
Start your engines! Photo via: Wiki Commons.
It’s an elimination race this Saturday at Bristol for the round of 16. There are some heavy hitters below the cut line and this race is their last chance to move on to the round of 12 and keep their championship hopes alive. Bristol is one of the most famous tracks on the schedule, as its massive banking and short length make it difficult to pass on. With this being such a high-pressure race, we are sure to see a lot of angry drivers when it’s all said and done. On Thursday, the track officials added a layer of grip around the bottom groove, indeed, we will see many drivers fight for the inside line.
Last week we saw another non-playoff driver in Bubba Wallace take the checkered flag at Kansas. This had been a long time coming for Wallace as his performance has continued to improve as he has scored a career-high in both Top fives and Top tens. The mission for Bubba in these last ten races is to keep the #45 car in contention for the owner's championship as he switched numbers with teammate Ty Gibbs. He has put himself in a great position with this victory.
For some of the drivers currently in the playoffs, Kansas was a tough go as there were multiple drivers that fell out of the race. Drivers like Tyler Reddick and Kevin Harvick both were involved in crashes that would relegate them to 37th and 38th place. For Reddick, he has obtained a fair amount of stage points that give him a little bit of a cushion, but by no means is he safe. He’s only 2 points to the good over the 12th place cutoff line. As for Kevin Harvick, he is currently 16th in points and is almost in a must-win scenario to move on to the next round. Another driver that had trouble was Kyle Busch. He would spin early in the race and wasn’t able to salvage much as he finished a disappointing 26th place. This puts Busch one point below the cut line.
The biggest news article of the week and maybe of the year was the announcement of where Kyle would be racing next season. On Tuesday, as we all expected Kyle Busch was named the driver of the #8 for Richard Childress Racing. This had been a move that the two-time champion needed to make, as it was clear that Joe Gibbs Racing was ready to move in a different direction for next season. When asked about it in his press conference, Busch said he knew he wanted to go to the team after Reddick outran him in the clash at the coliseum. This gave him the confidence to make the move and sign his multi-year deal to drive for RCR. It was a bit ironic that Kyle would choose to come here considering Childress once had Kyle Busch in a headlock 12 years ago. But the two were able to laugh it off as Childress gifted his new driver one of his watches. This should be a fun partnership as they begin to fill out their sponsorship inventory for next season.
As we know, a lot of these moves usually have a domino effect. This one is no different, as there are now many questions about the future of Tyler Reddick. Both parties have stated that they intend to work together next season, as Childress plans on preparing a third team for his driver, who still has a year left on his contract. 2023 is going to be an awkward season.
As for who will drive the #18, it is becoming more and more clear that Ty Gibbs will get the call-up to replace Kyle Busch in 2023. This doesn’t come as a surprise, not just because his grandfather owns the team but because of how great he has been in the Xfinity Series as he’s the odds-on favorite to win the title. He’s also shown a lot of promise filling in for Kurt Busch.
Shifting the focus to this week’s race at Bristol, the driver I have winning this weekend is Kevin Harvick. The past two races have been a complete disaster for the 2014 champion. It started at Darlington when the car caught on fire out of nowhere, and then the next weekend crashed at Kansas. His back is against the wall, but this is where Harvick thrives. We saw back in his championship-winning season that he needed a win to move on to the championship race, and that’s exactly what he did. Bristol hasn’t been the best track for Harvick, but with the circumstances, there is no one I believe in more than him. Look for the #4 to take the victory come Saturday.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
The Astros didn’t leave Seattle with a series win, but they may have gained something just as important: a reminder that resilience still runs deep in this group.
After a grueling extra-inning loss on Saturday, one that included the loss of Isaac Paredes to a hamstring injury, Houston regrouped on Sunday and hammered the Mariners 11-3. Christian Walker provided the turning point with a much-needed go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, while Taylor Trammell added a two-run double and a solo shot of his own. With Chas McCormick back from the injured list but still finding his footing, Trammell is quickly making his case as the best option in center field moving forward.
Manager Joe Espada continues to juggle a lineup that’s been in constant flux. Rookie Cam Smith, who had a clutch two-run double in Sunday’s win, has struggled as of late, going just 2-for his last 24. While his ability to get hits in clutch situations has been extremely valuable, the lack of a consistent spot in the batting order may be taking its toll. Giving Smith a stable home in the cleanup spot, even temporarily, might be a helpful reset.
Then again, the cleanup role hasn’t been kind to everyone.
Last night, Christian Walker, batting 4th, went 0-4, 2 K
- Walker for the season, batting 4th: .167 BA, .498 OPS
- Both are MLB worst (min. 75 AB batting 4th, 51st of 51)
- His 210 AB batting 4th are 6th most in MLB
- He's hitting .317 w/ .887 OPS when batting anywhere but 4th
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) July 19, 2025
Walker has been markedly less effective when hitting fourth this season, a trend that continues despite his strong Sunday performance. Sometimes, the data is clear: the four-hole might not be for him. He's literally been the worst cleanup option in baseball this season. Hit him fifth.
Behind the plate, Victor Caratini continues to impress, while Yainer Diaz is back in a cold stretch. Since the break, Diaz is just 1-for-14, raising questions about his timing and confidence as the summer grind deepens.
On the mound, the biggest developments are happening off the field. Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti both completed three-inning rehab outings with Double-A Corpus Christi, while Luis Garcia threw two innings in a rehab start with Low-A Fayetteville. The trio’s return could mark a major turning point for the Astros, especially as Lance McCullers continues to struggle in his own comeback. McCullers lasted just 2 2/3 innings in Saturday’s loss, allowing four runs and showing little of the form that once made him one of the rotation’s anchors.
There’s been hesitancy to replace McCullers with someone like Arrighetti while he’s still building back arm strength, but the argument grows thinner each time McCullers falters. If healthy, even a three- or four-inning version of Javier or Arrighetti could give Houston more consistency at the back of the rotation.
Despite the weekend loss, the Astros still hold one of the best offenses in baseball, second in batting average, 12th in OPS, and 11th in slugging. The pitching staff remains stout, ranking sixth in ERA and second in WHIP. This team is far from unraveling.
With reinforcements on the way and a lineup that’s still capable of putting up crooked numbers, the Astros aren’t panicking. If anything, Sunday’s blowout win showed they’re ready to weather whatever’s next.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
___________________________
*ChatGPT assisted.
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!