Chris Buescher took the win at Watkins Glen, shaking up the playoff picture as a non-playoff driver, much to the dismay of those competing for an automatic berth in the next round.
The playoff contenders had a rough day, with several big names now facing elimination as the series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the final race of the opening round next Saturday night.
Among those in trouble are three likely Hall of Famers. Denny Hamlin had a frustrating day, getting involved in two separate incidents, including one on the very first lap. He finished 23rd and is now six points behind Ty Gibbs and Chase Briscoe, who are currently tied for the final two playoff spots.
Hamlin, who started from 22nd, pointed to his poor qualifying performance as the root of his struggles, saying it put him in a difficult position that led to the crashes. “That was my fault in qualifying,” Hamlin admitted.
“I put us in a bad spot, right in the middle of the wrecks. I can’t complain because it was my doing. But I feel pretty good about Bristol. It’s been a strong track for us, and we’ve had a race-winning car the last few times there.”
Hamlin will head to Bristol with some confidence, as he has won the last two Cup Series races there and will need a strong result to advance.
Brad Keselowski also had a chaotic race, finding himself caught up in a dramatic three-wide situation that saw William Byron hit the guardrail and end up on top of Keselowski’s car. Keselowski finished 26th and now sits 12 points below the cutline.
Despite the tough outing, Keselowski can take some solace in the fact that Bristol has been a strong track for him, too. He finished third there earlier in the season and has three career Cup Series wins at the venue.
With Hamlin, Keselowski, and other big names under pressure, the race at Bristol promises to be intense as the playoff drivers fight to stay alive in the championship battle.
