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The Contender Round of the NASCAR Race for the Chase started on Sunday at the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race was originally scheduled for Saturday evening, but was rescheduled due to rain.
Twelve drivers are fighting during the three races of the Contender Round for the eight spots in the Eliminator Round. If a Chase driver wins any of the Contender Round races, they automatically qualify for the Eliminator Round.
Joey Logano dominated the entire race, leading 227 of the 334 laps, in order to secure the automatic spot in the Eliminator Round. Logano also secured his spot with the opening race in last year’s Contender Round.
“This makes Talladega way easier,” Logano said. “I know that’s on everyone’s mind when this round starts and last year we won Kansas when it was the first race of this round and now we were able to get it this time at Charlotte. We’ll get lots of sleep here the next couple of weeks.”
On to the Eliminator Round
Joey Logano punched his ticket when he won the Bank of America 500, putting his 22 car into the Eliminator Round.
Leaders of the Contender Round
Kevin Harvick and the number 4 car followed up his win last week with a runner up finish this week, putting him in a very good position to make the next round.
Martin Truex Jr. Finished third in the Bank of America 500, putting him and his 78 car in third place in the standings, one point behind Harvick.
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Denny Hamlin and the 11 car finished fourth, placing him fourth in the standings, two points behind Harvick.
Kurt Busch finished in fifth on Sunday, putting him and the 41 car in fifth place in the standings, three points behind Harvick.
Carl Edwards and the number 19 car finished in sixth place, dropping him down to sixth place in the standings. Edwards is three points behind Harvick and a tie-breaker behind Kurt Busch.
On the Bubble
Jeff Gordon drove the 24 car to an eighth place finish and is seventh in the points standings, five points behind Harvick.
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Brad Keselowski took his ninth place finish to put the number 2 car in the eighth and final spot that will move on, seven points behind Harvick and six points ahead of Ryan Newman.
Outside Looking In
Ryan Newman and the 31 car finished in 15th place, putting him in ninth place in the standings, 13 points behind Harvick and six points out of the next round.
Kyle Busch and the 18 car got into a collision with Kyle Larson after both drivers faked an entry onto pit road. Busch ended up finishing in 20th place, dropping him to 10th place, 17 points behind Harvick and 10 points out of eighth place.
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In Trouble
Dale Earnhardt Jr. made contact with the wall in the 88 car on Laps 69 and 74, causing him to fall a lap behind the leader. He then hit the wall again after hitting an oil spot during a restart on Lap 190. He finished 28th, placing him 11th in the standings, 26 points behind Harvick and 19 points out of eighth place.
Matt Kenseth had the 20 car starting on the pole and led 72 laps early in the race. However, mistakes during pit stops caused him to fall back in the running. He then made contact with Ryan Newman on Lap 176 which sent him into the wall. Kenseth’s crew made several repairs, but he hit the wall hard, and his race was over. He finished in 42nd place, dropping him into 12th place, 39 points behind Harvick and 32 points out of the final spot in the Eliminator Round.
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What’s next?
The Contender Round continues on October 18 at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. There is an automatic spot up for grabs for the winner of the race.