Editor’s note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays as well as several under-the-radar options and a play to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. See the full analysis here.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not pumpkin spice season — NASCAR silly season. With rumors of driver changes and team changes floating in the air among the autumn leaves, have you ever wanted to add to the noise? Now, with the 2018 upgrade to our Silly Season Simulator, you can generate your very own fictional scenarios to share with your friends and totally look like a genius when they come true for next season.
RELAYED: Key players in the 2018 Silly Season
Two races down, one race remaining in the first round of the Xfinity Series playoffs that hasn’t lacked for drama nor intrigue. Here is a look back at what’s transpired thus far and where things stand entering the Round 1 elimination race Saturday at Dover International Speedway (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Is championship co-favorite Justin Allgaier, 11 points above the cut line, sweating heading into the Bar Harbor 200?
When the playoffs began regular season champion Justin Allgaier was presumably a lock to advance to the second round based on all the bonus points he had accumulated during the regular season. Now, after consecutive subpar finishes (15th at Charlotte, 32nd at Richmond) to open the postseason he finds himself in a precarious position where another poor result Saturday could lead to his elimination.
It is understandable why the JR Motorsports driver may be feeling a bit uneasy, as his championship run could be over far sooner than expected. The good news for Allgaier is that Dover is one of his better tracks. He has finished fourth or better in four of the past five races, a stretch that includes a dominating win in the spring where he led 104 of a possible 200 laps.
MORE: Clinching scenarios | Xfinity Series Playoff standings | Full Dover schedule
How is Christopher Bell, the other championship co-favorite, feeling this weekend?
Relieved, thanks to his win two weeks ago at Richmond that automatically transferred Bell into the next bracket regardless of what happens Saturday. His focus is now on winning and amassing additional playoff points that he can use to his advantage in subsequent rounds.
Who else is feeling good about their chances to advance?
Barring a disastrous finish Saturday, Daniel Hemric (+30 points) and Tyler Reddick (+21) are in good shape and should be confident about maintaining their championship eligibility. Also feeling secure, though with a bit more trepidation, is Cole Custer (+14), who would need a lot to go wrong for him to be eliminated.
Can Ross Chastain’s magical run continue?
Ross Chastain maximized his opportunity to drive Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42 Chevrolet, winning the regular season finale at Las Vegas then finishing runner-up in the playoff opener at Richmond. He jumped back to JD Motorsports for the Charlotte roval and finished 12th, which has him nine points clear of Austin Cindric for the final transfer spot.
MORE: Chastain nabs first Xfinity win at Las Vegas
Whether Chastain can advance depends on two factors: 1) He needs to run and finish well for the entirety of the race Saturday, with Cindric capable of overcoming that nine-point deficit via stage points, and 2) Chastain becomes vulnerable if a playoff driver below him in the standings wins as that would move up the cut line.
Only one of the above factors Chastain has any control over, making for a stressful weekend with the real possibility the clock may strike midnight for NASCAR’s Cinderella.
Is Austin Cindric up to the task of racing his way into the second round?
Although Cindric’s best tracks are road courses — he’s coming off a third-place finish at Charlotte — Dover does offer the rookie a good opportunity to earn himself a spot in the second round. He qualified seventh and finished ninth there in the spring (in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford), his first start on the high-banked, one-mile oval. That result was seven positions higher and 18 points better than Chastain. If a similar outcome occurs Saturday, Cindric is likely moving forward in the playoffs.
What must Ryan Truex, Ryan Reed and Brandon Jones each do to avoid elimination?
Win! It is anything but easy, however that is the most straightforward path for the three drivers lowest in the playoff standings if they are to continue onto the second round. Yes, Truex (-24 points), Reed (-25) and Jones (-28) could transfer without a victory, except a lot things would need to occur in their favor and that is simply not realistic.
By going out and winning, Truex, Reed and Jones would take their respective playoff fates into their own hands without the need to concern themselves about how their competition is performing.
Of course, this is easier said than done and each faces an incredibly tall task Saturday. Among the three, Jones appears to be the best candidate to accomplish the feat with the Joe Gibbs Racing driver turning in a fine performance at Dover in the spring that saw him win the pole, lead 33 laps and finish 10th.
Four drivers will be eliminated from the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs after Saturday’s Bar Harbor 200 presented by Sea Watch International (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Dover International Speedway. The postseason field will be whittled from 12 to eight drivers.
Only Christopher Bell has sealed a berth in the Round of 12 with a victory at Richmond Raceway in the Round of 12.
RELATED: Postseason standings | Full schedule for Dover
With seven spots up for grabs, here’s what the remaining contenders must do to advance to the next round (drivers listed in order of their points ranking):
- Daniel Hemric – Hemric would clinch on points with 31 Points. If there is a repeat winner (or a win by Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, Matt Tifft, Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier or Ross Chastain), he would clinch with 26 Points.
- Tyler Reddick – Reddick would clinch with 40 Points. If there is a repeat winner (or a win by Daniel Hemric, Cole Custer, Matt Tifft, Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier or Ross Chastain), he would clinch with 35 Points.
- Cole Custer – Custer would clinch with 47 Points. If there is a repeat winner (or a win by Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick, Matt Tifft, Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier or Ross Chastain), he would clinch with 42 Points.
- Matt Tifft – Tifft would clinch with 48 Points. If there is a repeat winner (or a win by Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier or Ross Chastain), he would clinch with 43 Points.
- Elliott Sadler – Sadler would clinch with 50 Points. If there is a repeat winner (or a win by Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, Matt Tifft, Justin Allgaier or Ross Chastain), he would clinch with 45 Points.
- Justin Allgaier – Allgaier would clinch with 50 Points. If there is a repeat winner (or a win by Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, Matt Tifft, Elliott Sadler or Ross Chastain), he would clinch with 45 Points.
- Ross Chastain – Chastain would clinch on points with 51 Points. If there is a repeat winner (or a win by Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, Matt Tifft, Elliott Sadler or Justin Allgaier), he would clinch with 47 Points.
- The following drivers can clinch either with a win, or with help (none have a defined points total that would guarantee a clinch): Austin Cindric, Ryan Truex, Ryan Reed and Brandon Jones.
An “out of the blue” invitation from family in Charlotte a couple of months ago gave Ricky Brockmiller the chance to take his 4-year-old son, Payton, to his first NASCAR race last weekend. The family made the trek from their home in Colfax, Wisconsin, and witnessed a classic finish. But there was more that made Sunday’s debut for the Charlotte Roval an unforgettable memory.
Payton Brockmiller was front and center in the stands above the start-finish line for Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400, having made the walk down to the bottom row to get a closer look at his favorite part — the burnout. That’s when race winner Ryan Blaney locked eyes with the young fan, handed over the checkered flag and offered a fist-bump and thumbs-up.
“We just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” Ricky Brockmiller said Wednesday. “I knew Ryan likes to give out the checkered flag, so when I saw him grab it, I saw him scanning the crowd and I managed to get Payton up as high as I could. I just made my way to the front and guess we got really lucky.”
What a moment for this young fan thanks to @Blaney.#Blaney | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/8r3TKmTtJG
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 1, 2018
Lucky, maybe. But perhaps all the coincidences foreshadowed that Payton’s first race was bound to be special. Blaney’s first checkered flag giveaway — after an Xfinity Series win at Dover last year — was also on Sept. 30. His father also works as a body mechanic at a truck equipment company, right across the street from a distribution center for Menards, Blaney’s primary sponsor on his Team Penske No. 12 Ford. And Ricky Brockmiller’s job means plenty of work for Penske’s rental truck division.
RELATED: 360-degree view of Blaney’s last lap
Serendipity aside, the shellshocked look on Payton’s face told the post-race story Sunday. Reached Wednesday by phone, his father said that the meaning of the moment has just started to sink in.
“He kind of gets it, but I don’t know if he fully gets how cool and how big of a deal it is,” Ricky Brockmiller said. “He’s a shy kid, but he’s getting it and liking it. Coming out of the race track, I think he was starting to notice that yeah, it felt pretty cool because everyone’s giving him fist-bumps and shaking his hand. A lot of all these stray people just wanted to take pictures with him. So he’s kind of getting it.”
The post-race accolades weren’t the end of the already heartwarming story, which spilled over into a memorable Monday. The family paid a visit to Team Penske’s shop in Mooresville to pick up souvenirs, with Payton still proudly carrying the flag from the day before. A member of Blaney’s crew noticed him from the shop floor, asking if it was the flag. When the Brockmillers said yes, arrangements were made for a second meeting that afternoon with Blaney, who happily posed for pictures and added his autograph to the checkers.
The Monday photos featured Payton smiling with a No. 12 shirt for his new favorite driver, even though his race-day apparel showed the youngster’s support for Kyle Busch. Blaney, in his weekly podcast for NASCAR.com, joked that he was doing his level best at “converting fans, one person at a time.”
Pressed to name a favorite driver going forward, Payton stammered before blurting out, “Ryan Blaney!” His father admitted that his son’s allegiances were still split.
“At night, he and my wife, they do a prayer,” Ricky Brockmiller said. “My wife will say, ‘All right, who are you thankful for?’ and she’ll put ideas in his head like Mom, Dad, your sister, whoever. He still will say he’s thankful for Kyle Busch although now he has added in Ryan Blaney. I think he’s torn. He likes them both. I think it’s the candy on Kyle’s car.”
Once home, Payton Brockmiller unraveled the flag to show to the rest of his family. But now it sits rolled up and hidden away, awaiting his father to preserve both the flag and the race tickets in a keepsake frame.
But there are plans for Payton and his future with racing as well. Ricky Brockmiller said he helps out at Thunder Hill Speedway, a nearby karting track, and that he hopes to get his son up and running in competition in the next two years. Payton’s already making laps in a youth all-terrain vehicle on an oval burned into the field in the Brockmillers’ back yard.
“That’s all that he wants to do is race,” Ricky says, recounting the oft-told anecdote of Denny Hamlin’s rise to NASCAR’s big leagues. Hamlin, as an 11-year-old and a relative unknown finding his way on Virginia’s short tracks, told Coach Joe Gibbs at an autograph session that he’d drive for him one day. It’s a tale that’s resonated with the Brockmillers this week.
“I told my wife this is the beginning of his story,” Ricky says. “Hopefully one day he can come back and run for Ryan Blaney.”
Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus admitted it was a tough Monday morning earlier this week, the day after his team and driver Jimmie Johnson were eliminated from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
“I beat myself up pretty bad,” Knaus told host Dave Moody on Wednesday evening during an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Knaus watched from atop the pitbox as Johnson hounded race leader Martin Truex Jr. over the final lap at the Charlotte road course. A win in sight — and a transfer spot into the Round of 12 seeming safe — Johnson attempted a late pass for the win with an aggressive move that spun his car around, and collected Truex Jr.’s No. 78 in the process.
JOHNSON: I’d do it again
The spin left Johnson with an eighth-place finish instead, and he was eliminated from the postseason by virtue of a tiebreaker.
“I feel like that maybe just one word out of me or two words out of me would have changed the outcome,” Knaus said. “Maybe he wouldn’t have gone in those extra 2 feet deeper. … It’s difficult to make those decisions in an environment like that.
“I feel that if Jimmie Johnson wins that race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the Roval to transfer into the next round of the playoffs, we have an opportunity to go win the championship. And I don’t mean just an opportunity, I think a real opportunity. I think that motivates (Johnson) and reinvigorates him and the whole team. And with the way that we’ve been performing over the last month and a half or so, I think we would have had the speed to actually do it.”
RELATED: Jeff Gordon chimes in
Instead, the No. 48 operation will load in at Dover International Speedway out of the postseason, but in search of the Johnson’s 12th career win at the track.
As for the seven-time championship crew chief, he still has his driver’s back.
“He was going for the win, and that’s what thoroughbreds do,” Knaus said. “They go for the win.”
CONCORD, N.C. (October 3, 2018) – Kasey Kahne will continue to sit out from Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition this coming weekend when the series travels to Dover International Speedway. Kahne participated in a private medical test session on Tuesday afternoon with his physicians as they continue to evaluate his health following a case of extreme heat exhaustion at Darlington Raceway.
Regan Smith will once again serve as the team’s substitute driver for the Dover race weekend behind the wheel of the No. 95 Camaro ZL1.
Leavine Family Racing continues to work with Kahne and his medical team and will provide an update following the Dover race weekend.
The No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing team has been penalized for a safety violation following Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.
Per Sections 10.9.10.4, the No. 1 Chevrolet was found to have lug nut(s) not safe and secure in post-race inspection. Crew chief Matt McCall has been fined $10,000.
Jamie McMurray piloted the No. 1 Chevrolet to a runner-up finish in the first event at the Charlotte road course.
MORE: Full results from the Roval
No Xfinity Series teams were penalized following Saturday’s race at the Roval.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2018) – NASCAR fans can immerse themselves in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs™ in a new augmented reality (AR) experience available via the NASCAR Mobile app.
The NASCAR Playoffs AR Experience Refreshed by Coca-Cola invites fans to walk through virtual portals to experience the playoffs’ most memorable moments in 360-degree AR.
For all 10 weeks of the NASCAR Playoffs, fans with an AR-enabled iOS or Android device can access new AR experiences via the NASCAR Mobile app.
“NASCAR is always looking for unique ways to engage fans and bring them closer to the sport, especially during the most exciting time in our season,” said Tim Clark, NASCAR Digital Media vice president. “Together with Coca-Cola, we’re inviting fans to step right into the NASCAR Playoffs and experience the action, pageantry and emotion like never before.”
Fans place a 3D Coca-Cola can within their environment to create a superimposed portal into NASCAR Playoffs action. After walking through the portal, fans can live within thrilling playoff moments such as team celebrations in Victory Lane, post-race driver burnouts and more.
New 360-degree content will be added weekly following each NASCAR Playoffs race, culminating with the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship™ at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.
Fans can download the latest version of the NASCAR Mobile app today on the App Store and Google Play.
The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue this week with the Gander Outdoors 400 from Dover International Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (channel 90), with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.
Speed, coverage and control are critical elements of maintaining a fair competitive environment through race officiating. Crew chiefs and NASCAR officials discuss innovations in officiating that help enforce the rules in the video series “Xfinity Presents: Technology that Defines NASCAR.”
Today, car inspection before and after qualifying and racing is conducted via lasers and cameras in the Optical Scanning Station; timing loops enforce pit road speed limits; and about 46 cameras mounted above pit road ensure pit crews stay within the rules as well as their pit boxes.
Improving parity in the sport is one benefit of this latest evolution from tape measures to templates and now lasers for inspection, said John Probst, VP of Innovation and Racing Development for NASCAR. But speed of inspection is another huge advance.
The pit road officiating trailer now houses officials using automated systems to make calls faster and with more control than ever before. Then the infractions and penalties can quickly be communicated to crew chiefs, spotters and drivers.
“We’re constantly looking at ways to improve our process,” said Elton Sawyer, VP of officiating and inspection for NASCAR. “Through technology we have made some huge gains and we’ll continue to do that and we’re hoping to bring that experience to the fans as well.”
Change the way you WiFi with Xfinity xFi. Xfinity xFi gives you the speed, coverage and control you need for the ultimate in-home WiFi experience. Learn more at xfinity.com/xfi.
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