Denny Hamlin climbs NASCAR championship odds, all-time wins record
The blokes focus on Denny Hamlin’s win at Las Vegas and what it means for the NASCAR playoffs and profession wins record. Additionally they preview the Talladega race.
Chase Briscoe gained the chaotic playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway, securing a spot within the championship 4.Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson presently maintain the ultimate two switch spots heading into the following race.The ultimate race of the Spherical of 8 will happen at Martinsville Speedway earlier than the championship in Phoenix.
That was extra prefer it.
After April’s race at Talladega Superspeedway featured oddly clear racing late, the return journey to the large Alabama observe within the NASCAR Cup Sequence playoffs introduced extra chaos.
Seventy-seven lead adjustments, which ranks fourth-most all-time. A number of wrecks involving the chief, together with one with Chris Buescher within the ultimate 10 laps. Additional time.
The tip consequence: Chase Briscoe acquired a great push from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs and picked up the checkers within the YellaWood 500. The win, his first at a superspeedway, put him within the championship 4.
He and Denny Hamlin are the one drivers who’ve already secured their spots.
“Ty Gibbs, simply an unimaginable teammate there,” Briscoe stated on the NBC broadcast. “I truthfully wouldn’t have gained that race with out Ty. Simply an incredible workforce effort. I can’t imagine I gained a superspeedway race. I haven’t accomplished it at any degree … It’s not hit me. We’re going to Phoenix.”
Listed below are three takeaways.
1. Chase Briscoe clinches NASCAR championship race berth
In his first season in Martin Truex Jr.’s outdated No. 19 JGR seat, Briscoe will compete for a title for the primary time. The 30-year-old claimed the fifth win of his profession and third of the season. He beforehand triumphed at Pocono in June and Darlington in August.
His Darlington win got here through the opening race of the playoffs.
However ’Dega represents an entire ’nother beast.
“Even in the present day, I simply had such a peace,” Briscoe stated. “Usually, I’m scared to dying, a nervous wreck round this place.”
He led 16 laps. Joey Logano spent the longest time in entrance, main 35 laps. He positioned sixteenth.
Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace and Cole Custer rounded out the highest 5.
2. NASCAR playoff standings after Talladega
Exterior of Briscoe, it wasn’t an excellent day for different drivers nonetheless alive within the playoffs. Solely Christopher Bell, in eighth, positioned within the prime 15.
In consequence, he ranks third within the standings, 37 factors above the cutline and one level above Kyle Larson, who presently holds the ultimate championship place. Larson charged for the lead in extra time however ran out of gasoline on the final lap.
Listed below are the 4 drivers beneath the cutline:
5. William Byron: -366. Joey Logano: -387. Ryan Blaney: -478. Chase Elliott: -63
Logano positioned sixteenth within the YellaWood 500. Blaney completed twenty third, two automobiles in entrance of Byron in twenty fifth. And Elliott was wrapped up within the first crash of the day, dropping him to a dead-last fortieth.
3. NASCAR schedule replace: Martinsville, then Phoenix
OK, again to regular.
The superspeedway that’s Talladega is at all times one second away from chaos and unpredictability. Sunday represented the playoffs’ true wild-card race.
However the Spherical of 8 will wrap up below extra normal circumstances. Martinsville Speedway will host the Xfinity 500 at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26. The race will air on NBC.
Martinsville stays a basic NASCAR observe, a half-mile oval that opened in 1947.
Final time the Cup Sequence competed there, in March, Hamlin prevailed. On account of his win final week, Hamlin is already locked into the championship 4 it doesn’t matter what occurs within the Spherical of 8 finale.
After the journey to Martinsville, all roads result in the one-mile dogleg oval, Phoenix Raceway, and its Cup Sequence title race on Nov. 2.
