In the intense Round of 8 playoff at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the fates of the contenders were very different, bringing both wins and hardships.
WINNERS
Kyle Larson: The way he was in charge was almost hypnotic. He was a hurricane on the road. He was so good behind the wheel that he won the first two stages and led a fantastic 133 laps to seal the win. His win filled his place in history and got him into the Championship 4, which is very hard to get into. To my surprise, he has led more than 1,000 laps and has been the Cup’s lighthouse since the 2021 crisis started.
Christopher Bell: The desire for glory was thick in Bell’s veins. He moved closer to the prized Championship 4 by a hair when he was in second place and earned 17 valuable stage points. The unstoppable Bell has two more chances and is ready to take the lead in the following fights.
Denny Hamlin: Hamlin worked hard and never gave up, even though he started at the bottom (place 15). Even though he slowed down in the third act, his 12 valuable stage points showed his determination. Homestead is calling. Hamlin’s skill, which has earned him three wins, could write the story of his return there.
Kyle Busch: Busch showed unwavering strength, rising from past problems like a phoenix. He stayed in the top three rivals the whole time, even though he had trouble restarting and ended up in third place. After coming close to being average, he returned strong with two top finishes in a row, which made the whole weekend feel good.
LOSERS
Chase Elliott’s trip from the back was challenging, and there was sadness along the way. He kept going and got back into the race, but he was stopped by a penalty and had to finish in an unfair 31st place. This was a depressing reminder of how unpredictable racing can be.
Chris Buescher: In the early fights, Buescher was short on points, but Fortune ignored him. A brave 10th-place finish couldn’t hide that he was the only fighter to leave Las Vegas without any stage points, which made him feel bad. Homestead is 23 points behind the minimum wanted and looks very dangerous.
Martin Truex Jr.: He bet on worn-out tires as a brave way to try to win the title. He got his first top-10 playoff finish, but he was dangerously close to the cutline—only three points separated him from the top ten. Along the complex path to redemption, there were brief glimpses of success amidst the sea of problems.
Ryan Blaney: The sad turn of events could be heard in the sound of his sixth-place finish. A problem with the left front shock was found during the post-race inspection. This cost the driver eight important stage points and got them kicked out of the race. Blaney has to do an impossible thing—win at Homestead or Martinsville—and he only has one point to use.
The history of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is full of stories of success and pain that are written with each turn and roar of the engines. The Championship 4’s road, lined with both victory and thorns and holds the promise of an unwritten story, calls to these titans.
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