Did you expect Kyle Larson to lose [the final spot in the Round of 8] by two points to Chase Briscoe? – KFB_FAN1818, YouTube
I did not see that one coming.
After the Oct. 2 race at Talladega Superspeedway, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion was just 18 points above the cut line.
Entering last Sunday’s (Oct. 9) round at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, William Byron jumped back into the green after winning his appeal. Byron reclaimed the 25 points he was initially penalized for spinning (not wrecking) Denny Hamlin under caution.
At first, it didn’t matter. Kyle Larson did as Kyle Larson does, especially on road courses as a Hendrick Motorsports driver. He ran consistently toward the front, finishing the stages in sixth and third, respectively.
P3 finish for @KyleLarsonRacin in stage two. Many leaders pitted before stage end, but @DanielsCliff reports fast lap times.
— No. 5 Team (@Hendrick5Team) October 9, 2022
And then he slid into the wall and went five laps down as the crew replaced a toe link. Larson finished 35th while Chase Briscoe advanced on the strength of a ninth-place result and some tail-gunner help from his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Cole Custer.
Kyle Larson comes to pit road with the right rear toe link needing to be replaced. This is going to be a long, slow stop for the No. 5 team #BofAROVAL
— PRN (@PRNlive) October 9, 2022
Despite Larson at least doubling Briscoe’s totals in wins, top fives and top 10s, the margin between them was just two points.
In favor of Briscoe.
That’s just how the playoffs go, especially in this ultra-competitive season where nobody (save perhaps Chase Elliott) has the kind of massive playoff points buffer that effectively prevents elimination. Austin Cindric, 10th in the playoff standings after the ROVAL, had just 30 fewer points than leader Elliott when the checkered flag fell.
If you’re a Larson fan, I understand your disappointment (and I’m guessing KFB_FAN1818 understands too). Your guy is out of the championship hunt in a year his chances were as good as anyone’s. Same as Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Tyler Reddick, all eliminated in the Round of 16.
Heck, even Daniel Suarez, in his first playoff appearance, looked like a solid pick to make it to the Round of 8 until a power-steering failure inside of 50 laps to go at the ROVAL dropped him five laps down. Given Trackhouse Racing Team’s strength at mile-and-a-halfs, which make up two of the three races…
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