Following the NASCAR Cup Series event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, the NASCAR Playoffs have trimmed from 12 to eight drivers.
Kyle Larson, who advanced via points following Stage Two, led a race-high 62 laps en route to a series-leading sixth win on the season.
Here’s a look at who advanced to the Round of 8 and who got eliminated:
Clinched
Christopher Bell, like Larson, clinched a berth into the Round of 8 following Stage Two. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver went on to finish runner-up at the 2.28-mile road course.
Following the front two was William Byron in third place. Byron, who locked into the next round after last week’s race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, cruised throughout Sunday’s event.
A fifth-place finish for Chase Elliott was all he needed to keep his hopes alive for a second title in the Cup Series. Elliott entered the event only 13 points above the cutline, however, was able to have a solid day to advance.
A wreck last week at Talladega wouldn’t be Ryan Blaney’s demise as the Team Penske driver earned a solid 10th-place result at the ROVAL, allowing Blaney to advance.
However, it wasn’t without hard work as Blaney and the No. 12 Ford team were focused on stage points to allow themselves to stay ahead of the cutline. Blaney added 12 stage points throughout the event.
“I thought our car was fast, we just were in the Stage points game all day and we had to restart 30th every run to get back up to where we finished in 10th,” Blaney said. “To be honest, I wasn’t as aggressive on some of the restarts there in the back to weave our way through because we knew our objective today.
“I am proud of the effort of all the 12 boys to come out here and forget last week and focus on this week which really mattered.”
Perhaps the driver with the most eventful day was Tyler Reddick. Following a win in Stage One, Reddick piled into team owner Denny Hamlin at the beginning of the second stage, damaging both race cars in the process.
In the latter stages of the race, Reddick charged from 26th to 11th on the final restart, which was enough to leapfrog Joey Logano for the final playoff spot, four points to the good.
Hamlin entered Sunday 30 points to the good and wound up a mere seven points in the green after placing 14th in the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
It was a survive-and-advance type of day for Hamlin following his run-in with Reddick.
“Seven is the same as 100,” Hamlin laughed. “It is such a tough spot to be in, when you are up like we were because the only thing that can hurt you is a really detrimental day, so you can’t be as aggressive as you really want to, but you can’t bleed a bunch of track position either.
“Great job by this whole Sport Clips Toyota team. Chris Gabehart (crew chief) and the team did an awesome job of keeping us in it, and luckily, we were able to come away with a top-15 there.”
Two-time Cup Series champion Logano had a solid outing at the ROVAL as he finished eighth. After entering the ROVAL 13 markers below the cutline, Logano tallied 17 stage points throughout the event.
With Alex Bowman’s disqualification, Logano bumped into the next round.
Eliminated
Alex Bowman initially crossed the finish line in 18th, securing a berth into the next round. However, following post-race inspection, Bowman’s No. 48 Chevrolet was disqualified after failing to meet post-race weight requirements.
Chase Briscoe’s title hopes ended early after a flat tire in Stage Two derailed the Stewart-Haas Racing driver’s run at the ROVAL. Briscoe would retire from the race in 36th.
“It is tough to have all the momentum that we had and to have it come to an end like it did is unfortunate,” Briscoe said. “I wish we could have kept going for it. I am sure all the guys that get eliminated wish they could keep going for it, right? We knew, I think as a team even, going into it that if we could get through this round we could get to the final four but we weren’t able to get through this round.
“It is unfortunate. We still have a lot to race for. We can still go win four more races and that is what we will try to do. It is four really good tracks for us so I feel really good about it. I wish we were racing for a championship still. It is just one of those days. Honestly, kind of one of those weeks with everything that has happened. I am ready for Monday.”
Finishing 30th was Daniel Suárez, who was one of two drivers one lap down following brake issues throughout the 109-lap race.
Austin Cindric was also eliminated despite a fourth-place finish. Cindric, who entered the Round of 12 finale needing a win (29 points out), came up three spots shy.