Daytona International Speedway has been lauded for its high banks, blistering speeds and unpredictability of NASCAR restrictor plate racing.
As the regular season race to finalize the 16 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contenders, it didn’t disappoint for drama and action on Saturday night. Several winning contenders saw their hopes go up, and then down, in the final laps.
Ryan Blaney, who already clinched a spot by winning at Nashville Superspeedway in June, earned his second win of the season with a four-wide finish. It was his second Daytona victory and 15th of his career. He beat the second-place finisher of Daniel Suarez by a mere .013 seconds.
Too Far Out on Final Laps
With two laps remaining, Blaney was running 13th in his No. 12 Ford. When the white flag flew, Cole Custer in the No. 41 Ford was leading with one to go.
However, as often is the case at Daytona, that is not the ideal place to be as the field races towards the checkered flag. Custer was pushed out front as the field coursed through Turns 1 & 2.
As they barreled down the backstretch, Justin Haley vaulted to the lead in his No. 7 Chevrolet. Both drivers needed to win to get in the Playoffs. Joining in the upfront fray, and in the same predicament, were drivers Daniel Suarez, Eric Jones and Chris Buescher.
Coming through Turns 3 & 4, cars were lined up two, three and then four wide as the pack headed towards the finish line. This was when Blaney made his move up top and then to the middle to take the win.
“The 7 blocked the 41 and the next thing I know, Iâm leading the lane and now Iâm clear to the middle and I can play two lanes,” Blaney said. “I didnât quite know what lane to block, the middle or top at the end. I was like, âJust try middle. I think weâve got enough momentum.â
“Enough to hold them off. It was a crazy last few laps, thatâs for sure.”
Custer Finishes Fourth
“Man, we were close,” he said on pit road. “That was a really cool race, having a shot at there at the end. Wish we got the win, but at the end of the day it’s awesome to get a good finish for our guys.
“I was trying to stay with the No. 12 car, I knew he was going to have the run there at the end. But, the No. 7 got cleared and I had to go around him and do something different. You’re going to kick yourself, but I feel like it’s awesome to be in the fight there for a win.”
Bowman Wrecked out Early, had to Await his Fate
Alex Bowman and the No. 48 Chevrolet team came to Daytona winless and one spot above the cutline in 16th place. If disaster struck for the team, Bowman needed a driver already in on wins to claim victory to secure his Playoff position.
Disaster almost struck for Bowman when he got caught up in multi-car wreck on Lap 28. With his car damaged beyond repair, Bowman registered a DNF was relegated to a 36th-place finish. This forced him to watch the race and determine if he was in, or out, for the Playoffs.
“All of the hits just sort of compounded too much to be able to fix it,” Bowman told NBC Sports, after being released from the Infield Care Center. “I hate it for the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet team. Weâve done a lot of good things lately.
“Tonight is going to be stressful to watch, but weâll see what happens. Hope for no new winners, but if somebody wins, they deserve it.”
It certainly wasn’t for lack of effort by the non-winners, but Bowman will contend for the Championship seeded in 16th place. The first of 10 Playoff races begins this Sunday at Darlington Raceway.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Wild Last Laps at Daytona Determine Playoff Picture appeared first on Heavy Sports.