The NASCAR Cup Series began the Round of 8 playoffs Sunday afternoon at Kansas Speedway in the Hollywood Casino 400. The “Choose Cone Rule” was back for this race. Chase Elliott won the pole by a metric qualifying system with Joey Logano qualifying second. Martin Truex, Jr. and James Davison both had to start in the rear of the field after multiple failed inspections.
A spot in the #Championship4 is on the line! The #HC400 is GREEN on NBC! pic.twitter.com/Ti975IMKG3 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2020
Elliott led the first 25 laps before the competition caution came out. During the caution, the leaders went to pit road with William Byron coming out first, followed by Chase Elliott. Byron chose the inside lane with Elliott outside for the restart on lap 31. Byron quickly lost the lead to Kevin Harvick, who restarted third. Byron continued to lose positions before settling in at 14th place. Harvick led 33 laps before Elliott passed him on the outside of turn two to take the lead. He led the remaining 31 laps to win stage one.
The 9️⃣ battles back! @chaseelliott regains the lead from @KevinHarvick as Stage 1 winds down. pic.twitter.com/urEdPnlXBC — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2020
During the caution, the leaders went to pit road. Elliott was having radio problems, and his crew asked him to change earplugs. Hamlin would come off pit road first, followed by Elliott. Hamlin chose the outside lane with Elliott inside to start stage two on lap 87. Hamlin led 19 laps before losing the lead to Ryan Blaney. On lap 121, Erik Jones went to pit road to start scheduled green-flag stops. Harvick pitted on lap 123, Hamlin and Elliott on lap 125, and Kurt Busch on lap 132. Elliott continued to have issues with his radio. On lap 144, Matt Kenseth thought he was clear and instead made contact with Erik Jones to bring out the second caution.
.@mattkenseth just wasn't clear of @Erik_Jones there. #HC400 pic.twitter.com/ZJgHeKwkCi — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2020
During the caution, most of the drivers went to pit road. Hamlin, Blaney, Keselowski, Bowman, Kurt Busch, and Martin Truex, Jr. were the only drivers to not pit. Hamlin was the new leader, and he chose the outside lane with Blaney inside for the restart on lap 150. Denny Hamlin led the last eleven laps to hold off a charging Kevin Harvick to win stage two.
STAGE WINNER: @dennyhamlin holds off @KevinHarvick in a frantic finish to Stage 2 at @kansasspeedway! 📺: NBC | 📲: https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC pic.twitter.com/saN9WJAUlu — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2020
During the caution, Kyle Busch was the only driver to stay out while everyone else pitted. Logano and Almirola were the first two cars off of pit road, taking two tires. Kyle Busch chose the outside lane with Logano inside to start the final stage on lap 168. On the same lap, Logano took the lead from Busch. Two laps later, Kevin Harvick passed Logano from the inside lane of turn three for the lead.
NEW LEADER: @KevinHarvick … coming through! 📺: NBC | 📲: https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC pic.twitter.com/2o2yj79wBU — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2020
On lap 178, Denny Hamlin made contact with the outside wall of turn four, damaging the right side of the car, and would pit a lap later. By lap 191, he was one lap down in 28th place. On lap 198, Kurt Busch blew a motor to bring out the fifth caution of the day.
It's over. @KurtBusch is done for the day at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/IhICJiWdKh — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2020
During the caution, the leaders went to pit road with Harvick leaving pit road first, followed by Kyle Busch. Harvick chose the outside lane with Busch inside for the restart on lap 206. Tyler Reddick hit the outside wall at turn four to bring out the sixth caution of the day on lap 221. During the caution, the leaders went to pit road with Logano coming out first, followed by Harvick. Logano chose the outside lane with Harvick inside for the restart on lap 226.
Less than 65 to go with a ticket to the #Championship4 up for grabs. 🎟 Get to NBC or stream the finish now at https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC! pic.twitter.com/JHw53DiL5E — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2020
Logano held off Kevin Harvick for the remaining 42 laps to win the race by .312 seconds. With the win, Logano advances to the final four championship race at Phoenix.
SEE YOU IN PHOENIX! Retweet to congratulate @joeylogano on advancing to the #Championship4 in 2020! pic.twitter.com/J3wpGsn70X — NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Alex Bowman third, Brad Keselowski fourth, Kyle Busch fifth, Chase Elliott sixth, Ryan Blaney seventh, William Byron eighth, Martin Truex, Jr. ninth, and Christopher Bell tenth. There were six cautions for 31 laps and seventeen lead changes.
The Round of 8 playoff standings is Joey Logano first (ADV), Kevin Harvick second (+41), Denny Hamlin third (+20), and Brad Keselowski fourth (+8). Outside looking in are Chase Elliott fifth (-8), Alex Bowman sixth (-27), Martin Truex, Jr. seventh (-31), and Kurt Busch eighth (-73).
The Round of 8 playoffs continues next Sunday, October 25th, at Texas Motor Speedway in the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at 3:30 pm on NBC.
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