We asked.
We received.
The race had everything. Cars in the air. Cars held together with tape. Cars with parts sawn off so they wouldn’t shred the scuffed, recycled tires teams were using after running out of fresh sets. There were lead changes. There were rules violations. Bubba Wallace had a shot at the win. Fuel mileage was a factor. NBC turned the race off and sent it to NBCSN because it went so long and NBC doesn’t want to be in this NASCAR contract but they’re in it and NASCAR isn’t getting out. Three overtimes went down. The race ended in a photo finish.
In the end, it was Denny Hamlin edging Matt DiBenedetto, keeping the young, already-eliminated driver from his first career victory and earning Hamlin five valuable points he can carry through to the next round. It was a day, and with it now over, here’s where every remaining playoff driver stands:
Aric Almirola (finished 37th, now 48 points back of Joey Logano)
Almirola was leading midway through the race when he went high to block Alex Bowman and didn’t leave enough room. He did not return after the accident, and now needs to win at the Roval (Charlotte’s road course, where next week’s Round of 12 finale is taking place) to stay alive. In the playoffs. Nobody’s getting killed for losing here.
Clint Bowyer (finished 33rd, now 38 points back of Logano)
Bowyer was the one who started the wreck that sent Kurt Busch surfing. Not positive how that happened—there was a lot going on—but he’s in the same boat as Almirola. Not really seeing a path forward without a victory next week.
Austin Dillon (finished 12th, now 21 points back of Logano)
Everyone was involved in crashes, except maybe Hamlin, who hung back all day and picked off the leaders at the end, so Dillon’s participation isn’t noteworthy. His car was pretty well taped-up by the end of the day, which was neat, but others were more heavily taped. Dillon’s not dead yet—making up 21 points without winning isn’t impossible—but he’s a longshot to advance.
Kyle Busch (finished 27th, now 21 points back of Logano)
Kyle Busch lost a whole lot of metal off the front of his vehicle, leaving his front left tire exposed but the car still somehow going 200 mph. Eventually, though, he was too slow, and his slowness combined with the speed and urgency of those behind him resulted in one of the wrecks shown above, ending his day. He’s got a better chance to advance than Dillon, because he’s Kyle Busch, but still not in a good spot.
Joey Logano (finished 26th, now squarely upon the cut line)
I forget which wreck knocked Logano out, but judging by his place in the results, it was either the Kyle Busch one or one in between that and the Wallace/Blaney one (not shown, not all that exciting but did get a “Bros!” moment for the pals). That, or it was an earlier one, he came back on the track, and eventually couldn’t keep it up anymore. Regardless, Logano had a wild day, getting multiple penalties for forcing opponents below the double yellow line (the rule was an unfortunate star of the proceedings). He’s the last driver into the Round of 8 as things stand, but he’d be eliminated if the standings held and Kyle Busch, Dillon, Bowyer, or Almirola won. Not that the standings will hold pat—just saying he’s not safe even if he finishes in the top ten.
Alex Bowman (finished 14th, now 1 point ahead of Logano)
Bowman’s car was another taped-up piece of art, if I remember correctly, but I struggled to find the picture I remember seeing, so I’m doubting myself. He finished the race, which was an accomplishment.
Martin Truex, Jr (finished 23rd, now 11 points ahead of Logano)
If I’m looking at the clip right, Truex was involved in the Kyle Busch accident, which makes sense because it appears he finished on the track but a lap or more down. Not safe, but safer than many.
Brad Keselowski (finished 18th, now 20 points ahead of Logano)
Early in the overtime saga, it looked like Keselowski was going to win. I think fuel mileage did him in, and he was then collected in one of the accidents? Finished on the track.
Chase Elliott (finished 5th, now 23 points ahead of Logano)
Didn’t pull off the victory, but came close, and now he gets a road course, where he’s been strong in the past.
Kevin Harvick (finished 20th, now 47 points ahead of Logano)
Not technically locked into the Round of 8, but effectively locked in, as he has been for half the season. Tried the same strategy as Hamlin—that of hanging back and trying to avoid the chaos—but eventually the chaos found him anyway, I think. Wasn’t a factor at the end.
Kurt Busch (finished 32nd, won at Las Vegas so locked into the Round of 8)
Kurt Busch flew yesterday. Not in the going-fast sense (everyone did that). He was airborne.
Denny Hamlin (finished 1st, locked into Round of 8)
Hamlin closed the playoff points gap between himself and Harvick to 13, and more importantly widened that gap between him and the field, so that if playoff points were to hold (and they won’t), he’d start the Round of 8 with a 34-point cushion above the cut line.
***
Overall, it’s still looking like Harvick and Hamlin will be in the championship, with Keselowski next in playoff points, Elliott and Logano and Truex behind him, and everyone else behind them. The most likely championship four? Harvick, Hamlin, Keselowski, and let’s say Elliott because of the Roval. With four races before Phoenix, it’s pretty well-shaped outside of that fourth spot. Which sets the stage well for disaster over the next month.
