The NASCAR Cup Series kicked off the Round of 12 playoffs Sunday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the South Point 400. Kevin Harvick won the pole by a metric qualifying system with Kyle Busch qualifying second. The “Choose Cone Rule” was in effect for this race.
Let's do this @LVMotorSpeedway. 😤 The green is out in the #NASCARPlayoffs Round of 12 on NBCSN and streaming at https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC! pic.twitter.com/cil9p4Nr7b — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 27, 2020
Chase Elliott pushed Harvick to the lead before moving Harvick up the track to take it from him on the backstretch of the first lap while Harvick fell to fourth. Elliott led 25 laps before the competition caution came out at lap 26. During the caution, all of the leaders went to pit road with Kyle Busch coming out first, followed by Denny Hamlin. Christopher Bell got caught speeding and had to restart at the back of the field. Kyle Busch chose the outside lane while Hamlin went inside for the restart on lap 31. On the same lap, Denny Hamlin took the lead from the inside of turn three. Hamlin led 50 laps to win stage one.
These restarts are going to be ✨ 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓮 ✨ 📺: NBCSN | 📲: https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC pic.twitter.com/Z4hEFJ2GDu — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 27, 2020
During the caution, the leaders would come to pit road for service with Kyle Busch coming out first and Logano second. Kyle Busch chose the outside lane while Logano picked inside to start stage two on lap 87. A lap into the restart, Logano made contact with Busch trying to get the lead while Hamlin went low and took it. Logano suffered a tire rub as smoke was coming out from the left rear.
CONTACT BETWEEN @KyleBusch AND @joeylogano! 😱 The drama continues between the #NASCARPlayoffs contenders! pic.twitter.com/sELKdwWVol — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
Hamlin led an additional four laps before Chase Elliott passed him for the lead. Hamlin was .724 seconds back when he pitted on lap 118. A lap later, Elliott pitted for his scheduled stop. Once the scheduled green-flag stops were complete, Elliott resumed the lead on lap 145. He would lead the last sixteen laps to win stage two.
STAGE WINNER: @chaseelliott is flexing his muscles once again at @LVMotorSpeedway, taking Stage Two of the #SouthPoint400! 📺: NBCSN | 📲: https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC pic.twitter.com/EgDVk6UhgK — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
During the caution, the leaders pitted with Denny Hamlin coming out first, followed by Alex Bowman. Hamlin chose the outside lane while Bowman went inside to start the final stage on lap 167. Bowman took the lead from Hamlin on the inside of turn three.
Bowman the Showman ➡️ P1 #NASCARPlayoffs contender @AlexBowman88 goes to the front in Vegas! pic.twitter.com/hymrHZCK1U — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
Five laps later, Hamlin would get the lead back from Bowman. Debris brought out the caution for the fourth time on lap 190. During the caution, the leaders went to pit road for service with Hamlin out first, followed by Martin Truex Jr., and Alex Bowman third. Denny Hamlin chose the outside lane while Truex Jr. went inside for the restart on lap 197. Matt DiBenedetto went four-wide to get second-place. Five laps later, Bowman would pass DiBenedetto for second.
Four-wide? At @LVMotorSpeedway? *heavy breathing ensues* pic.twitter.com/RiyC8YIdHB — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
On lap 214, Austin Dillon’s car had power steering troubles and overheating issues. He made it to pit road to replace broken belts. Scheduled green-flag pit stops began on lap 231 with Harvick and Kyle Busch on pit road. Alex Bowman pitted on lap 232, and Denny Hamlin pitted a lap later as Matt DiBenedetto was the new leader. DiBenedetto pitted a couple of laps later. Jimmie Johnson would bring out the caution for the fifth time after suffering a flat right-rear tire. During the caution, Kurt Busch, Chris Buescher, and five others went to pit road.
Seven-Time's final trip to @LVMotorSpeedway won't end the way he intended. Caution is out for @JimmieJohnson as the #SouthPoint400 continues on NBCSN and https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC. pic.twitter.com/imdxrrN3eX — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
Matt DiBenedetto was now the new leader as he chose the outside lane while Kurt Busch went inside for the restart on lap 243. Kurt Busch would take the lead from DiBenedetto a lap later. Seven laps later, John Hunter Nemechek spun on the inside of turn three. His car went back onto the track forcing Erik Jones to hit Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. to bring out the caution for the sixth time.
They're fighting for every inch at @LVMotorSpeedway for a chance to advance in the #NASCARPlayoffs! A Round of 8 spot is on the line on NBCSN! pic.twitter.com/WokiJiQdlu — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
A slide by @JHNemechek will reset the field once again. Another restart is coming up at @LVMotorSpeedway. 👀 pic.twitter.com/yGzNOOEG2d — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
During the caution, some of the leaders went to pit road, including Denny Hamlin from eleventh. Kurt Busch chose the outside lane while DiBenedetto went inside for the restart on lap 256. Five laps into the restart, Christopher Bell loses a tire, causing William Byron to react and spin on the front stretch to bring out the seventh caution sending the race to overtime.
The No. 24 of @WilliamByron goes for a slide to bring out the yellow once again in the #SouthPoint400. annnnnnnd everyone relax for a quick second pic.twitter.com/l2n2QWI89S — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
Kurt Busch chose the outside lane with Matt DiBenedetto on the inside for the restart on lap 267. Kurt Busch pulled away, leaving Hamlin and DiBenedetto battling for second. Busch would win his first race of the season by .148 seconds over Matt DiBenedetto. With the win, Kurt Busch now advances to the Round of 8 playoffs.
KB1 ➡️ #NASCARPlayoffs Round of 8 ➡️ 🔒 On his home turf, @KurtBusch had the restart and final laps of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/BDra1vxvcv — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Denny Hamlin third, Martin Truex, Jr. fourth, Alex Bowman fifth, Kyle Busch sixth, Ryan Blaney seventh, Erik Jones eighth, Chris Buescher ninth, and Kevin Harvick tenth. There were seven cautions for 36 laps and 20 lead changes.
Playoff point standings after this race are Kurt Busch first, Kevin Harvick second (+61), Denny Hamlin third (+58), Brad Keselowski fourth (+16), Martin Truex, Jr fifth (+15), Joey Logano sixth (+11), Chase Elliott seventh (+10), and Alex Bowman eighth (+9). Outside looking in the Round of 8 are Kyle Busch ninth (-9), Clint Bowyer tenth (-20), Aric Almirola eleventh (-27), and Austin Dillon twelfth (-32).
The Round of 8 playoffs continues next Sunday from Talladega Superspeedway for the YellaWood 500 at 2 pm on NBC.
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