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.
Denny Hamlin is Championship 4 bound after taking the checkered flag in Sunday’s Round of 8 playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The win, No. 60 of his NASCAR Cup Series career, kept the dream alive for Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic.
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 shed tears of joy, while Kyle Larson gave his rival the proverbial pat on the back… That’s how the final laps of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup playoff race in Las Vegas — the first of three races in the Round of Eight semifinals — played out.
Denny Hamlin drove inspired over the closing laps of Sunday's South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and was able to take his No. 11 ampm Toyota to victory lane.
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.