NASCAR at Bristol results, highlights: Denny Hamlin wins night race as Martin Truex Jr., Bubba Wallace advance to next round

Denny Hamlin heard the boo birds. It's hard not to when they take up the vast majority of the concourse.

But the Joe Gibbs Racing star didn't care. This is a different Hamlin, after all. NASCAR's favorite heel is just that, the perfect mix of bravado and skill. He's a welcome anti-hero to the likes of Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. And like Elliott and Larson, he's teeming with speed.

Hamlin was his typical cold self at Bristol, emerging through the mire to capture career win No. 51 on the Cup Series circuit. It was just the sort of display the No. 11 car had expected  after impressive showings at Darlington and Kansas, where he fell just short of wins.

Hamlin was a presence of composure at the front of the field, overtaking all those that challenged him. Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and Kyle Larson all attempted to hold the No. 11 off. All three were left spiraling in the dust.

"I just beat your favorite driver," Hamlin said as his detractors sang the blues. "All of them."

While the front of the pack was engaging, the equator was really where things sparkled. Golden tickets seemed unlikely for Martin Truex Jr. and Bubba Wallace, both of whom sat below the Round of 12 cut line heading into the day.

But after Joey Logano's rear toe link turned to ash after a collision with Corey LaJoie, their path to advancement got a whole lot easier.

Ultimately, it was Truex — the regular season champion — and Wallace — a playoff newbie — who advanced.

Hamlin was the man of the hour, however. And as he approaches yet another deep playoff run, he'll be hoping for a moment similar to the one he experienced in victory lane: frolicking in joy as confetti pours down.

MORE: Watch the Bass Pro Shops Night Race live with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News tracked live updates from Saturday's race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Follow below to see just how things turned out at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, the last race of the Cup Series Round of 16.

NASCAR at Bristol results

(All results are unofficial)

NASCAR at Bristol live updates, highlights from Bass Pro Shops Night Race

(All times Eastern)

10:14 p.m.: Hamlin wins the night race at Bristol! Logano and Harvick eliminated from playoff contention! Truex and Wallace will advance!

10:13 p.m.: Two laps left. Hamlin is going to win! Looks like Truex and Wallace will clinch a spot in the Round of 12 as well!

10:08 p.m.: Wallace holding on for dear life. 20 laps remaining and he sits four points above the cut line. Todd Gilliland pushing hard behind Reddick, who sits just behind Wallace. He's got to keep his composure. Can't afford to make a mistake here.

10:02 p.m.: Hamlin laps Wallace. The 23XI star is in 14th. A clean race will send him to the Round of 12.

9:52 p.m.: McDowell in the mix in sixth place. 75 laps to go. He's currently 17 points back of spot in the next round of the playoffs. That means he'll almost certainly need a win to get in.

9:39 p.m.: Back to green at Bristol! Larson pushing hard on Hamlin for first. This is quite the battle at the top of the field.

9:32 p.m.: CAUTION! Truex gets wobbly! He's off the lead lap now, although it doesn't seem it's too consequential for the No. 19 car. A good bit of fortune for the JGR star, all things considered.

9:25 p.m.: Really impressive showing by Ty Gibbs thus far. He's led for more than 80 laps and is looking to lap Busch. Looks like he's going to get past him on Lap 340.

9:18 p.m.: Harvick is two laps down! Not looking great for Happy as it stands. He'll need some serious help if he is to make the Round of 12.

9:11 p.m.: Harvick is in hell. He's a lap down and has to find a way to make up three spots on Wallace and Truex. Not looking great for the veteran, who could see his last playoff run go up in smoke soon. If he goes another lap down, it'll be hard to work his way back.

9:00 p.m.: CAUTION! LaJoie goes spinning after overcorrecting while trying to get past the No. 43 car! He collects numerous drivers, including Logano, who takes major damage to his left rear. Left toe link is shattered. His left-rear suspension looks cooked. He might be done for the race...and his playoff hopes are certainly in danger. Unfortunate situation for the reigning Cup Series champion.

8:57 p.m.: Byron is through to the Round of 12 via points! One stage to go and it's a long run! 241 laps before the end the race. This should be an interesting run.

8:51 p.m.: Bell unable to get by Busch! However, he takes Stage 2! Things are getting stressful here at the Last Great Colosseum.

8:48 p.m.: Bell's team is imploring him to put the pressure on Busch, Keselowski and other playoff drivers. He can point his way through to the next round of the postseason by the end of the stage, if things work out in his favor.

8:45 p.m.: Things are tight at the equator. Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Harvick and Wallace all dangerously close to the cut line. 20 laps to go. All four are outside the top-10, meaning it's unlikely that they will pick up stage points. Wallace trying to keep pace with Truex, who is the last car in as of now.

8:37 p.m.: Larson has thrust himself to the front, an impressive achievement given the fact that he started at the rear. He's but a nanosecond behind Bell for first place. We have 50 laps remaining in the stage. You've got to love short track racing.

8:22 p.m.: Finally, we're back to green! Bell and Ty Gibbs spearheading the charge at the top of the totem pole. McDowell not too far behind!

8:06 p.m.: Red flag out as the rain intensifies at Bristol!

7:53 p.m.: Bell wins Stage 1! That's his third stage win of the year! LaJoie finishes second, followed by Wallace in third!

7:52 p.m.: And Bell takes the lead at Bristol! Just three laps to go in the stage. Looking pretty good for the No. 20 car!

7:50 p.m.: We're back to green! LaJoie looking to hold on to top spot ahead of Bell. Just nine laps to go until the stage ends. Can LaJoie capture his first-career Cup stage win?

7:48 p.m.: CAUTION! Light rain brings out the canary flag. LaJoie still holding firm at the top with 14 laps remaining in Stage 1.

7:40 p.m.: Harvick losing some serious track position. He made a two-tire stop but his handling is all over the place at the moment. He's now in P27. That's a problem for the Stewart-Haas Racing star, who has no chance at stage points. He's going to drop in the live postseason standings if things remain the same at the end of the stage.

7:35 p.m.: The field is all over the place now. LaJoie and Wallace lead the way at the top of the field as we head back to green. 

7:31 p.m.: CAUTION! First caution flag of the day after A.J. Allmendinger and Austin Cindric get into one another. The No. 16 whip lost its way heading around the bend and made serious contact with the No. 2, so much so that it brought the Team Penske driver into the air for a split second. Decisions, decisions for playoff drivers heading around the turn towards pit road. Stage is but a few minutes away from finishing. Time for some strategic thinking.

7:23 p.m.: McDowell starting to find his footing. He's about a second behind the leaders. Speaking of the leaders, it seems there's some frustration between the No. 20 car and his lapped compatriots, who are making his journey around the orbit all the more difficult. Hamlin is pushing hard behind him.

7:15 p.m.: McDowell is falling fast. Bell and Hamlin are separating themselves from the pack, even making their way around the lapped cars.

7:13 p.m.: Hamlin slides beyond the No. 34. These Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas are looking rather comfortable through the opening 10 laps. Further down the track, looks like Elliott is sliding down the field. Went from eighth to 16th in the blink of an eye.

7:11 p.m.: Our long national nightmare is over! We're green from Bristol! Michael McDowell steals the march on Hamlin in Turn 2, taking the No. 11 car's spot in P2.

7:00 p.m.: It's been the slightest of precipitation that has kept the race from starting. Seems some, including pole sitter Christopher Bell, 

6:57 p.m.: Rain causing some issues thus far at Bristol. We find ourselves still undergoing a slight delay as cars are headed back to pit road due to slick conditions. So many close calls thus far and yet here we are, still awaiting the green flag.

What channel is NASCAR on today?

• TV channel: USA (U.S.) | TSN4 (Canada)
• Live stream: Peacock, Fubo
• Radio: PRN

Saturday's race will be broadcast on USA Network in the United States. Canadian viewers can find the action on TSN4.

Veteran announcer Rick Allen will lead the race's lap-by-lap commentator. He'll be joined by former Cup Series stars Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt Jr., as well as former Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte.

Cord-cutters can follow the action on Peacock, as well as with Fubo, which offers a free trial.

NASCAR start time today

• Date: Saturday, September 16
• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race has a listed start time of 6:30 p.m. ET., but pre-race festivities are expected to push the waving of the green flag closer to 6:37 p.m. ET.

NASCAR at Bristol starting lineup 2023

Leading the field for Sunday night's race are playoff drivers Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin. Below is the rest of the starting lineup for the race: