Things got a little bit spicy yesterday.
No, Dale Earnhardt was not reincarnated. Man, that would’ve been something though. Instead, that’s Austin Dillon in the 3 Car, giving us a very fun GIF while celebrating his third career win.
Austin Dillon has made the playoffs a few times in his young career and won a Daytona 500, but he’s failed to finish in the top ten of the final standings so far. Being the grandson of his owner, Richard Childress, this has fueled a noticeable collection of fans saying he’s only in the sport’s top circuit because of nepotism.
Whatever. He won. He keeps making the playoffs. Yeah, he’s probably got a pretty good car, but I’m in no position to judge drivers.
Except for this one.
That was Quin Houff not checking his blind spot. More accurately, it was evidently Quin Houff trying to pit from the middle lane of the track, because that’s what Brad Keselowski called it and I think spotters are supposed to check blind spots so drivers don’t drive around with their necks twisted and amplify the life-threateningness of the situation. Whatever you want to call it, very dumb by Houff. People were upset. They may still be upset. Keselowski suggested removing him from the circuit (actually, he just said NASCAR should consider making rules where repeat idiots get removed from the circuit, but that’s less fun to say).
But before all that.
It was Ryan Blaney’s race for the first two stages, and he even managed to stay in contention following this shindig, which sent Kyle Busch off-roading in a car not designed to off-road.
Specifically, Blaney and Denny Hamlin were out front as the final cycle of green-flag pit stops began, but in the middle of that cycle, well…
When the debris had been cleared, it was Dillon and rookie teammate Tyler Reddick leading the restart, then leading another restart when Hamlin got caught up with Alex Bowman (not that fun of a video), then leading a final restart when Hamlin spun out again. As you know, Dillon pulled away to win, going from the right side of the playoff bubble to locked into the field, barring seven first-time-of-the-year winners over the regular season’s final eight weeks. Reddick hung on in second, bringing him within 14 points of Jimmie Johnson for what’s currently the final playoff-qualifying spot. Speaking of Johnson…not the best day for the veteran.
He did manage to piece his way back through the field to 26th, but he’s now just two points ahead of William Byron for that final playoff spot, and in the event another car outside what’s now the top 15 wins over the next month or so, he’s 36 points behind Clint Bowyer for what would then be the final spot.
Not great.
Not a lot of other fun videos. Kyle Busch salvaged a top-five from that adventure through the grass. Blaney’s stage wins got him a pair of playoff points, putting him that much closer to Kevin Harvick when the postseason fires up. Aric Almirola noticed he didn’t have brakes before the green flag even waved, and just stayed out there until the normal time to pit because evidently you can drive Texas without brakes. Next up, Kansas on Thursday night. Then, seven races over the month of August before the playoffs start Labor Day Sunday at Darlington. Buckle up.
