### NASCAR Cup Playoff Race at Bristol: Post-Race Reactions
**Kyle Larson
— Winner**: “This weekend was all about great execution by the team. The Hendrickcars.com Chevy was phenomenal; I could manage my stuff and pass cars when it mattered. Closing out a win feels incredible, especially since we often dominate but don’t always finish strong. This one means a lot!”
**Chase Elliott
— 2nd Place**: “I’m really proud of our LLumar Chevy team. We had a solid night with great pace, but Kyle did a fantastic job navigating through traffic, which made the difference. It’s nice to see a Hendrick one-two finish and to be in the mix moving forward in the playoffs.”
**Bubba Wallace — 3rd Place**: “We came in thinking we were a seventh-to-12th place car, so finishing third is a pleasant surprise. It stings a bit since I’m not in the playoffs, but it makes me hungrier for next year. We’ve shown we can compete well in multiple categories.”
**Denny Hamlin — 4th Place**: “My goal was to win, but Kyle was clearly better tonight. We had a strong car in the middle stages, but I got too loose toward the end. Overall, it was a solid day with good stage points, so I appreciate the efforts of my FedEx Toyota team.”
**Christopher Bell — 5th Place**: “The yellows in stage two helped us, but overall, we got our butts kicked by the 5 car. Still, a top-five finish is good for our DeWalt Toyota team. I’m looking forward to Kansas and hoping to keep the momentum going.”
**Ryan Blaney — 6th Place**: “Considering our poor qualifying, I’m happy with a top-10 finish. The long run at the end was tricky, but we managed it well. This gives us something to build on as we head into the next round.”
**Ryan Preece — 7th Place**: “We had to wait for the long runs to start passing cars, but I’m proud of our progress over the last few months. This finish is encouraging as we move forward.”
**Chase Briscoe — 8th Place**: “I felt confident in our Ford Mustang despite a rough pit stop. I believe we can compete for the championship. We just need to keep improving and show that we belong in this conversation.”
**Alex Bowman — 9th Place**: “The track changed a lot as it rubbered up, which impacted our performance. I’m proud of our team for maintaining a solid points day, and we’ll keep pushing for better results in the next round.”
**Tyler Reddick — 20th Place**: “Handling was a challenge all night. I’m glad we picked up some stage points, but it was a tough start to the playoffs. I’m optimistic about our upcoming races.”
**Martin Truex Jr. — 24th Place**: “We were solid in the first two stages but ultimately missed the cut. I feel for my team; we’ve put in so much work. It’s disappointing to be so close and yet fall short.”
**Brad Keselowski — 26th Place**: “We just didn’t have the pace we needed. It was a long night, and we didn’t perform as expected. We need to regroup and come back stronger.”
This race at Bristol showcased impressive performances, but the focus now shifts to Kansas, where drivers will aim to capitalize on their playoff positions.
