Twelve drivers entered the cutoff race in Charlotte this weekend. However, only eight would leave with a shot to capture a title in four short weeks. Tyler Reddick won the pole needing all but a win to make it through. He held off Shane Van Gisbergen on the initial start. Everyone was able to make it through the initial start except for Kyle Busch who made contact with the outside wall exiting turn one and had to go to the garage for repairs. Van Gisbergen would be able to get past Reddick after four laps and Reddick would fall to third after Kyle Larson passed him on lap eight. Trouble arose early for one of the playoff drivers as Austin Cindric would spin after contact with Justin Haley. After some pit stops among most of the leaders Van Gisbergen drove back up and took the lead and won the first stage.
Stage One Results:
- Shane Van Gisbergen
- Kyle Larson
- Ty Gibbs
- Christopher Bell
- Ross Chastain
- Michael McDowell
- Chase Briscoe
- Chase Elliott
- William Byron
- Ty Dillon
More issues plagued playoff drivers during the stage break pit stops as Ross Chastain would overshoot the pit exit and fall to 30th in the running order. A.J. Almendinger led the field to the green to start the second stage. More calamity struck Austin Cindric as Carson Hocevar locked up going into turn 16 and turned Cindric as well as broke his right rear toe link. The second stage would consist of a ton of strategy plays from teams trying to gain an advantage to set them up for either stage points or the last stage of the race. As a result, Ryan Blaney would stay out to capture a all important playoff point for the next round as he won the second stage.
Stage 2 Results:
- Ryan Blaney
- Tyler Reddick
- Chase Elliott
- Ross Chastain
- Shane Van Gisbergen
- Kyle Larson
- Christopher Bell
- Joey Logano
- Daniel Suarez
- Cole Custer
Shane Van Gisbergen led the field to green to start the final stage, Christopher Bell made a challenge to try to muscle past Van Gisbergen coming out of the backstretch chicane but was unable to get past for the lead. A caution flew on the next lap for Austin Dillon cleaning out a set of tires in the infield section. On the restart, Kyle Larson got past Bell and challenged Van Gisbergen into turn 7 and was able to muscle his way past Van Gisbergen for the lead. Which he held until the next set of pit stops. After they cycled, Larson held an almost four-second lead over Van Gisbergen. Van Gisbergen was able to reel Larson in and pass him back for the lead. More drama for the playoff drivers as Chastain sped on the pit road and had to serve a pass-through. Van Gisbergen, Larson, and Bell battled through another cycle of pit stops that ended with Van Gisbergen pulling away to a lead he would not again concede. Van Gisbergen would win his 5th race of the season in exciting fashion. However, we were not done as Ross Chastain found himself tied with Joey Logano in the playoff transfer spot coming to the checkered. Seeing his playoff hopes dwindling before his eyes Chastain would send it into turn 16. He clipped the barrier, made contact with Denny Hamlin. Which sent both spinning around and he crossed the line backwards but not before a handful of cars including Logano passed him ending his playoff run.
Photo credit: Casey Calhoun, Racing America
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