The dust had barely settled under the Las Vegas lights when a different kind of chaos erupted on pit road. Saturday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race was a pressure cooker, the 28th of the season and a crucial fourth stop in the seven-race playoff gauntlet.
Shane van Gisbergen has emerged as one of the better drivers on the grid this year, more so because of his being in his rookie year. The Kiwi even achieved the rookie of the season award after being the only rookie to make it into the playoffs.
Before the season began, when Chris Gabehart was promoted to competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin was paired with a new crew chief, Chris Gayle, the move caught Hamlin completely off guard.
After winning Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas, 41-year-old Aric Almirola found himself in a familiar position. The win gave him the opportunity to deliver an owner's championship to his benefactor, Joe Gibbs.
Joey Logano was able to breathe a bit easier Sunday, one week after last Sunday’s nail-biting finish at the Charlotte Roval that saw him advance past Ross Chastain by one mere point for the eighth and final spot in the Round of Eight semifinals.
After capturing the opening playoff race at Darlington, Chase Briscoe punched his ticket to the Round of 12 with ease. By keeping his foot on the gas, stacking up top-fives and top-tens, he clawed his way into the Round of 8 as well.
Denny Hamlin won Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, clinching a berth in the Championship 4. Here's what the Cup Series playoff grid looks like after the first race of the Round of 8.
For the first time since 2021, Denny Hamlin will go to the NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway with the ability to win his first Cup Series title.