The stage is set.
The Winner
Ryan Blaney took the bottom lane on a late restart, got a good push from Kyle Busch, and won the day.
The Race
Not a lot of passing, but enough intrigue to keep it fun. The biggest moments were 1) playoff bubbler Austin Dillon wrecking with Brad Keselowski immediately after crossing the finish line to end the second stage and 2) the late rain caution which bunched up the field, leading to another caution (which involved the other playoff bubbler—Tyler Reddick) out of which came Blaney’s victory.
Results
Probably should have switched to this a few weeks ago, but we’re just listing the top ten here plus playoff drivers and those who could get in on points. The others raced too, but by now it’s win or go home for them all.
William Byron finished 2nd.
Kyle Larson pushed it on fuel at one point but was able to coast into pit road. He wound up 3rd.
Kurt Busch avoided disaster early after contact with Matt DiBenedetto. He was 4th.
Denny Hamlin was 5th.
DiBenedetto was 6th.
Kyle Busch was 7th.
Chase Elliott took a strange pit stop that still hasn’t been explained and finished 8th.
Keselowski survived the Dillon wreck to finish 9th.
Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top ten.
Christopher Bell was 13th.
Kevin Harvick was 14th, which was enough to clinch him the penultimate playoff spot.
Alex Bowman was 16th.
Aric Almirola was 17th.
Reddick was involved in the post-rain-caution crash. 29th.
Joey Logano wrecked out. 33rd.
Dillon ended up 36th but gained three points on his teammate, Reddick.
Standings
Here are the fifteen locked into the playoffs, as well as their playoff points:
1. Larson – 52
2. Truex – 25
3. Kyle Busch – 23
4. Elliott – 18
5. Blaney – 18
6. Bowman – 15
7. Byron – 15
8. Hamlin – 15
9. Logano – 12
10. Keselowski – 8
11. Kurt Busch – 8
12. Bell – 5
13. McDowell – 5
14. Almirola – 5
15. Harvick – 2
As for the rest of them…Reddick’s 25 points ahead of Dillon for the last spot. I believe the rule is that every full-time driver inside the top 30 can make it with a win, meaning the list of guys who could bump Reddick or Dillon out of the field with a win Saturday night at Daytona goes, in standings order:
- DiBenedetto
- Chris Buescher
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Ross Chastain
- Bubba Wallace
- Chase Briscoe
- Erik Jones
- Daniel Suárez
- Ryan Newman
- Ryan Preece
- Cole Custer
- Corey LaJoie
- Anthony Alfredo
LaJoie was out this week due to Covid contact tracing. I’m not sure if he’ll be back next week or not. DiBenedetto and Custer were in last year’s playoffs. Jones made the playoffs while racing for Joe Gibbs in 2018 and ‘19. Newman was also in the ’19 playoffs, as well as the ’17, ’15, and ’14 playoffs. Stenhouse made it in ’17. Buescher was in the field in ’16. This would be Dillon’s fifth playoff appearance, and Reddick’s first. 2014 was the first year the elimination format was used, so that’s where we’re cutting this off, something I believe affects only Newman’s résumé.
Thoughts, Implications, Up Next
It’s a great setup for Saturday night. One spot available. Easy scenario to understand (Reddick v. Dillon v. The Field). Night race at a track where the race is often decided on the last lap. Should be a thriller of a finish. Hopefully everyone stays safe.
Videos
Kurt Busch avoids disaster:
The Dillon/Keselowski wreck:
Keselowski’s comments:
The post-rain caution wreck:
Thumbs up!
