Comments from the eliminated playoff drivers
The conclusion of the Bank of America ROVAL 400 Sunday (Oct. 11th) saw the championship field cut from 12 to eight drivers.
Below is a look at how each eliminated driver fared.
No. 3 Austin Dillon (-38 points)
Dillon entered the race with a 21-point deficit on the playoff cutline.
The No. 3 car started sixth in the race, ultimately crossing the finish line in 19th.
“No help from cautions, the race didn’t play our way,” Dillon said. “If we would have been up there, track-position wise, we would have been just fine.”
No. 14 Clint Bowyer (-46 points)
Bowyer was 38 points behind the cutline entering the Charlotte Road Course race.
Bowyer started 11th, leading twice for nine laps. He ended up finishing 10th.
No comments were immediately available from Bowyer as was taken to the infield medical center after he climbed from his car after the race.
No. 18 Kyle Busch (-49 points)
Busch entered the race 21 points behind the cutline.
The defending series champion started the race ninth, led three laps, ultimately finishing 30th.
“It’s just been unfortunate circumstances, a lot of back luck,” Busch said. “It’s just man, one of them off years, terrible year for me.”
No. 10 Aric Almirola (-62 points)
Almirola entered the race 48 points behind the cutline, 12th overall.
In a virtual must-win situation, Almirola started 12th place, finishing 16th on the day.
“I struggle here in particular,” Almirola said. “Just struggled all day. Really struggled on the rain tires… We fought hard, definitely a fight, but not the day we needed for sure to move on.”
OUTLOOK
The highest any of the drivers can finish in final points is fifth place.
SOURCES
Ford Performance
Racing-Reference.info
Team Chevrolet
Toyota Racing
Discover more from The Racing Experts
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Dominic Aragon View All
Dominic Aragon is currently the editor-in-chief for The Racing Experts.
From Grants, New Mexico, USA, Aragon started watching NASCAR in 2004 and has been covering the sport since 2009. Aragon is a 2012 graduate of Grants High School and a May 2016 graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in Mass Communications & Journalism. Aragon has worked in local and national media, as a musician, and an educator. He is co-author of the 2024 book "All of It: Daytona 500 Champion Tells the Rest of the Story" with racer Geoff Bodine.
Aragon, his wife Feliz, and son Christopher currently reside in Grants, New Mexico, USA.
You can reach Dominic at daragon@theracingexperts.net.