Well, not a bad idea to get the obvious done right away.
The Winner
Kyle Larson is going to the championship. Everybody goes to the championship (as we’ll get to later), but Larson is going to the championship with a chance to win the championship, which is something only four drivers get. He just keeps winning. What a year for the guy.
The Race
There were some fireworks early, when Bubba Wallace went around and started a big ol’ calamity on the backstretch, but no playoff drivers were caught up in it. From there, it became a fuel mileage game at points, but a string of late cautions took that out of the picture and lined Larson up to just take care of business on every restart, which he did.
Results
Top ten, other playoff drivers:
William Byron threatened Larson all day, finishing in second.
Christopher Bell put himself in third.
Brad Keselowski had a good day, finishing fourth.
Kevin Harvick was fifth.
Ryan Blaney played a good fuel move on the first stage, grabbing points there and on the second (though winning neither stage). Sixth place.
Chase Elliott had to start at the back after failing inspection. He drove his way up to seventh.
Kyle Busch won Stage One playing the same game as Blaney’s team. Eighth place.
Tyler Reddick gave Byron some more bumps. Ninth.
Daniel Suárez survived contact with Martin Truex Jr. Tenth.
Denny Hamlin had some issues late, beginning with some contact from Chase Briscoe and continuing after contact with Blaney. He held on to finish eleventh.
Truex did not survive contact with Suárez. 25th.
Joey Logano’s engine blew late. 30th.
Standings
One race into the three-race Round of 8, here’s where we’re at:
1. Larson (qualified for Championship Four by winning)
2. Blaney (17 points ahead of first driver out)
3. Hamlin (9 points ahead of first driver out)
4. Busch (last driver in; 8 points ahead of first driver out)
5. Elliott (first driver out; 8 points behind last driver in)
6. Keselowski (15 points behind last driver in)
7. Truex (22 points behind last driver in)
8. Logano (43 points behind last driver in)
Thoughts, Implications, Up Next
For Logano, it’s likely win or go home now, but he’s got two chances, as does everybody else. Blaney put himself in a great position, but would really like to see Hamlin or Larson or a non-playoff driver win next week if he doesn’t win it himself.
There were some complaints from veteran drivers about young non-playoff drivers causing issues by racing too hard. I don’t really know where to land on that. I get it, but at the same time, it’s part of the game. You can’t have an eight-car stock car race and if you tell the other 32 or however many to just run laps it feels kind of pointless. Maybe try being a really nice guy, just to cover your own ass? I don’t know.
Videos
The opening wreck:
Briscoe/Hamlin:
Logano blowup:
Buescher/Alfredo thing (action movie):
Hamlin/Blaney:
Suárez/Truex:
Buescher can’t escape:
Glad I correctly remembered the cowboy hats. Also, wow, didn’t realize Alfredo’s fire had spread:
