For the second week in a row in the NASCAR Cup Series, a driver not in the playoffs wins, with the success of Bubba Wallace in Kansas.
Bubba Wallace isn’t in contention for the drivers’ title, but the #45 23XI Racing Toyota Camry is still in contention for the owners’ title after Bubba Wallace’s win at Kansas. Chaos reigned in Kansas, with tire problems, mistakes in the pits and even accidents.
If the first two segments were animated, the last was much calmer. Bubba Wallace took the lead of the race 43 laps from the end, during the last salvo of stops, under green flag.
I’m very proud. The mechanics were amazing today. We had a tire problem. It’s nice to beat the boss.
Bubba Wallace
Under the checkered flag, Bubba Wallace wins in Kansas ahead of Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman and Martin Truex Jr. for the top 5. William Byron, Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney and Daniel Suárez complete the top 10 .
Still playoff pilots in the hard
Kevin Harvick loses very big. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver went into oversteer and hit the wall in the first half of the first segment. A retirement and a last place force the 2014 champion to victory in Bristol next weekend if he wants to enter the second round of the playoffs.
A few laps later, Tyler Reddick retired following a puncture when he was in charge of the race. The contact with the wall damages the Chevrolet n°8 too much which must take the direction of the garages.
The Hollywood Casino 400 in brief
Segment 1 : Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon
Segment 2 : Alex Bowman, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney et Ross Chastain
Next week the first round of the playoffs will end on the Bristol Motor Speedway at night. Four drivers will then be eliminated from the title race.
Christopher Bell will top the championship for the first time in his career. Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe and Kevin Harvick are on the wrong side of the fence heading into this first crunch race.