FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Tyler Reddick opened NASCAR’s final 12 playoffs with a win at Texas on Sunday, winning a week after being one of the first four Cup drivers eliminated from title contention.
After neither contender won the first three playoff races — the first win in any round in this postseason format — the trend continued, with Reddick out leading 53 of the final 54 laps in a long day of racing that stretched into the night. .
Reddick endured a long race that featured a record 17 cautions, a record 36 lead changes, a 56-minute lightning red flag and numerous tire problems that led to crashes — including playoff contender Chase Elliott, the points leader , who reached the second round and Christopher Bell.
Joey Logano finished second, 1.19 seconds back. Logano took over the points lead, 12 points ahead of Ross Chastain.
Elliott, who entered the Round of 16 as the points leader, had a hot finish after making contact with the outside wall in Turn 4 while only leading after half the race.
Flames were already visible from under the right side of the No. 9 Chevrolet when it came to the front, then turned around and stopped in the middle of the infield, where Elliott got out unscathed as the car was engulfed in flames. He took 32nd place.
Non-playoff drivers Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. also had tire problems while leading the race at the 1 1/2-mile track.
Bell, an Oklahoma native who considers Texas his home track, was unable to recover from a second tire problem that led to a late-race crash after finishing with just 136 laps to go. He was the only driver to finish in the top five in all three races in the first round of this postseason.
Non-playoff driver Justin Haley finished third ahead of contenders Ryan Blaney and Chase Briscoe.
https://www.limaohio.com/sports/2022/09/25/reddick-wins-nascar-playoff-race-in-long-tiring-texas-day/
