Another quartet of drivers were eliminated from title contention after the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs elimination race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course on Sunday, resetting the standings board and setting the Round of 8.
WINNER
AJ Allmendinger spoiled a handful of playoff drivers’ dreams to bid their way into the next round with a victory and took the third checkered flag of his Cup Series career.
RELATED: Race results | Full playoff grid
ELIMINATED DRIVERS
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing
Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing
ADVANCING TO THE ROUND OF 8
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, 4,041 points
Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, 4,036 points
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, 4,032 points
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, 4,024 points
Chris Buescher, RFK Racing, 4,021 points
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, 4,016 points
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, 4,016 points
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, 4,014 points
WHO’S HOT?
William Byron. He won at Texas Motor Speedway to start the Round of 8 and then scored back-to-back runner-up finishes at Talladega and Charlotte to storm into the next round as the points leader. He heads to Las Vegas, Homestead and Martinsville next, which are all tracks where he has won before.
Tyler Reddick. Not the best of rounds for the driver of the No. 45 Toyota, but Reddick is through to the Round of 8 and has a very favorable track in the midpoint of the round at Homestead. If tough luck goes away, expect Reddick to find his way into the Championship 4.
WHO’S NOT?
Martin Truex Jr. The Regular Season Champion continues to survive and advance despite the lack of quality results. Still not a single top-10 finish in the playoffs but Las Vegas, Homestead and Martinsville all bode well for the 2017 champion to turn it around when he’s going to need it.
Christopher Bell. Bell is going to enter the Round of 8 eight points below the Champ 4 elimination line, and Vegas and Homestead are tracks where Bell has yet to prove he can produce quality results on a consistent basis. It may take another walk-off moment similar to last year at Martinsville if he wants another shot at the title.
NEXT RACE
The Round of 8 opens at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the South Point 400 on Oct. 15 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).