Unique names adorn entry lists ahead of Bristol weekend

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series will each feature fun names behind the wheel at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Rising sprint-car star Corey Day will make his NASCAR national series debut in the Truck Series’ Thursday night feature at the 0.533-mile high-banked short track driving the No. 81 Chevrolet for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, his first of four races scheduled for 2024. Joining him will be Connor Zilisch, the 18-year-old sensation who won last weekend’s Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International in his debut start. Zilisch will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports Thursday night in his third series start.

RELATED: Full Truck Series entry list | Xfinity Series entry list

William Sawalich, the 17-year-old defending ARCA Menards Series East champion and a seven-time ARCA winner in 2024, will make his fifth start of the year in Tricon Garage’s No. 1 Toyota on Thursday night, eyeing his first top-10 finish of 2024. Marco Andretti, a two-time winner in IndyCar competition, will make his seventh career start in the Truck Series Thursday in the No. 04 Chevrolet for Roper Racing in his fourth appearance of the season.

The UNOH 200 Presented by Ohio Logistics is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The Xfinity Series features a return for two-time champion Dale Earnhardt Jr., a Class of 2021 inductee of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Friday’s 300-lapper marks Earnhardt’s lone race of the 2024 campaign. The 15-time most popular driver and 26-time winner in Cup competition returned to Bristol in 2023 and led 47 laps in a stellar showing before a mechanical issue ended his day in flames. Earnhardt will compete in the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.

MORE: Dale Jr. through the years

Also racing in Friday’s Xfinity event will be Jeffrey Earnhardt, Dale Jr.’s nephew, who will drive the No. 26 Toyota for Sam Hunt Racing in his fifth start of 2024.

The Food City 300 will fire off Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CW, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

MORE: Full Bristol weekend schedule