I’ve seen it, read it, heard it—SVG is just a road course ringer, he’s got zero shot at winning the championship. Oh really? Observe…
SOUTHERN 500: Denny Hamlin dominates a race most people miss because they thought it would be on NBC.
ENJOY ILLINOIS 300: After a disappointing run last week, Richard Childress moves Kyle Busch’s entire pit crew to Austin Dillon’s car. Kyle is forced to change all four tires himself, impeding Alex Bowman’s progress and allowing Kyle Larson to score a win over Christopher Bell.
BASS PRO SHOPS “NIGHT RACE”: With virtually every driver still in the mix to advance, a highly-anticipated slugfest at Bristol…is delayed due to a tropical depression. On Sunday, four “cut line” playoff drivers are eliminated early in a “big one”-style wreck, while Chase Elliott wins the race. SVG advances on the back of three straight finishes between 15th and 25th.
ELIMINATED: Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe
USA TODAY 301: Much like USA Today itself, the race is brief and relatively irrelevant, with Denny Hamlin winning despite a late-race charge by Josh Berry.
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400: Its time for a fuel mileage race! A blown engine from Bubba Wallace late in the race shakes up the field, with several drivers gambling they’ll make it to the finish. The prerequisite overtime (for a Ross Chastain blown tire) means only two drivers stretch their fuel far enough—winner Brad Keselowski and runner-up Joey Logano.
BANK OF AMERICA ROVAL 400: Controversy strikes as Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain blatantly cut through the course on the final lap, each trying to wreck out the other. The move, dubbed the “Sliced Melon”, results in both being disqualified, giving SVG the win later that evening.
ELIMINATED: Josh Berry, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain
SOUTH POINT 400: Denny Hamlin sweeps the opening races of each round, holding off a spirited three-way battle for the win between himself, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron. Chase Elliott is booed for the first time, leading to a poor race and a late crash, taking out Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick. The crash allows SVG to post a rare non-road course top-ten.
YELLAWOOD 500: Its carnage! Two “big one”s decimate most of the field, taking out several playoff drivers, leaving many in a “win or else” position going into next week’s race. SVG continues his “showing mastery by not wrecking” from last week, posting a solid top-ten finish as one of only 13 lead lap cars running at the checkered flag. Kyle Larson wins the race itself.
XFINITY 500: Needing a win to advance, Joey Logano does just that, passing Denny Hamlin on the white flag lap. Freezing-cold temperatures stymie most of the field, although SVG slips into the final round by a single point over a disappointed (and whiny) William Byron.
ELIMINATED: Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, William Byron
CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: Joey Logano’s Cinderella run ends early when he collides with Denny Hamlin in the first few laps. The resulting brawl between the pit crews sees upwards of four people switch over from watching football. As the race finally settles down, Kyle Larson is in control until the final round of pit stops, when he is caught speeding, much to the consternation of, well, everyone. While fans online claim that the Hendrick team has finally been caught (whatever that means), SVG is the only remaining playoff driver on the lead lap, allowing him to clinch the championship while teammate Ross Chastain wins the race.
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