TIRE TROUBLE DERAILS PROMISING BRISTOL RUN FOR ANTHONY ALFREDO
No. 96 DUDE Wipes Fragrance Free Chevrolet Runs as High as Eighth Before Multiple Tire Issues Lead to 32nd-Place Finish
BRISTOL, Tenn. — The final result doesn't tell the story of Anthony Alfredo's night at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Alfredo and the No. 96 DUDE Wipes Fragrance Free Chevrolet showed early promise Friday night in the Food City 300, racing forward from the 19th starting position and reaching as high as eighth before multiple tire issues turned a competitive night into a battle simply to reach the finish.
Alfredo entered Bristol coming off a stretch that included a fourth-place finish at Daytona, a sixth-place run at Darlington and a determined comeback effort at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Friday night presented another challenge.
With qualifying canceled because of weather, Alfredo lined up 19th for 305 laps around Bristol's demanding 0.533-mile concrete oval.
The No. 96 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet showed speed early as Alfredo worked his way forward through traffic, climbing as high as eighth during the race and putting himself in position for another solid performance.
But at Bristol, a promising night can change quickly.
Alfredo's race began to unravel during Stage 2 as an incident and subsequent tire trouble forced the No. 96 team to shift its focus from gaining positions to overcoming adversity.
After coming to pit road for repairs and returning to competition, Alfredo encountered additional tire trouble that forced another unscheduled trip to pit road under green. The lost track position proved especially costly at Bristol, where laps disappear quickly around the high-banked half-mile.
Once multiple laps down, Alfredo and the Viking Motorsports crew continued working rather than parking the car.
The team made repairs, kept the No. 96 Chevrolet on track and battled through the remainder of the night, ultimately completing 290 of the 305 laps and finishing 32nd.
While the result wasn't what Alfredo or Viking Motorsports wanted, the night provided another example of a team continuing to fight through difficult circumstances.
The No. 96 has shown flashes of significant speed in recent weeks, including back-to-back top-10 finishes at Daytona and Darlington. At Bristol, Alfredo again demonstrated that potential by racing from 19th into the top 10 before circumstances changed the direction of the night.
Now the focus turns forward.
After an off weekend, Alfredo and Viking Motorsports will return to competition October 3 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the goal will be simple: put together a complete race and turn the speed the team has shown into the finish it deserves.
ABOUT ANTHONY ALFREDO
Anthony Alfredo, 27, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Viking Motorsports while also competing in select NASCAR Cup Series events. Known throughout the garage for his work ethic and commitment to preparation, Alfredo also works as a simulator driver with Hendrick Motorsports, collaborating with drivers, crew chiefs and engineers to help prepare its NASCAR Cup Series teams for race weekends. In 2026, Alfredo pilots the No. 96 Chevrolet for Viking Motorsports and is represented by Race Face Brand Development.
ABOUT VIKING MOTORSPORTS
Viking Motorsports competes in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with a focus on building a competitive program capable of racing against NASCAR's established organizations. In 2026, the team fields the No. 96 Chevrolet for Anthony Alfredo and the No. 99 Chevrolet for Parker Retzlaff. Viking Motorsports continues to develop its program while producing increasingly competitive performances throughout the season.
ABOUT DUDE WIPES
DUDE Wipes is a personal care brand best known for its flushable wipes and growing lineup of hygiene products. Founded by longtime friends with the goal of providing a better alternative to traditional toilet paper, the company has grown from a startup into a nationally recognized consumer brand available through major retailers across the United States. DUDE Wipes is a partner of Anthony Alfredo and Viking Motorsports, supporting the No. 96 Chevrolet in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
MEDIA CONTACT
Rod Wortham
Race Face Brand Development
rod@racefacebd.com
racefacebranddevelopment.com
