The Eliminator Round continued at the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. This is the second of three races that will cut the field from eight drivers down to four. A win would put a Chase driver into the Championship race automatically, joining last week’s winner, Jeff Gordon.
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Brad Keselowski had dominated the race, leading 312 of the 334 laps. Unfortunately for him, the last four laps were not among the 312 that he led. Jimmie Johnson passed him with four to go and won his third consecutive race at Texas Motor Speedway. Johnson was eliminated in the first round of the Chase, so nobody advanced to the Championship Round with this race.
Keselowski needed the win after he was involved in wreck last week in Martinsville. His second place finish was not enough to bring him within striking distance of the fourth and final spot of the Championship Round without a win next week in Phoenix.
Kevin Harvick finished third and Kyle Busch finished fourth to solidify their chances at securing one of the three remaining spots in the Championship Round. Carl Edwards used his fifth place finish to move closer to Martin Truex Jr., who finished eighth.
On to the Championship Round
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Jeff Gordon is still the only Chase driver to have moved on to the Championship Round when the 48 car won the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500.
Leaders of the Eliminator Round
Kyle Busch used his fourth place finish in the 18 car to stay in the second spot in the standings. Busch controls his own destiny with three ways to clinch a spot in the top four: finish third or better, finish fourth and lead a lap, or finish fifth and lead the most laps.
Kevin Harvick and the 4 car moved up one spot with his third place finish. He is third in the standings, one point behind Kyle Busch. Harvick can also control his own destiny by finishing second or better, third and lead a lap, or fourth and lead the most laps.
On the Bubble
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Martin Truex Jr. finished eighth, and the 78 car is now in fourth place in the standings, four points behind Kyle Busch. The only way that he can control his destiny is to win the race.
Outside Looking In
Carl Edwards finished in fifth place and the 19 car is still seven points out of the fourth spot. If Truex or Busch has trouble during the race in Phoenix, it is possible for Edwards to sneak into the top four. Otherwise, he will need a win in order to advance.
In Trouble
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Brad Keselowski, even though he had the 2 car in front for nearly the entire race, needs a win in Phoenix or a lot of help to get to the next round. He is currently in sixth place, 19 points out of the fourth spot.
Kurt Busch and the 41 car are in seventh in the standings, 28 points out of the fourth spot and needing a win or a lot of help in Phoenix to advance.
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Joey Logano, after winning all three races of the Contender Round in the 22 car, is in big trouble. He is 63 points out of the fourth spot and can only advance with a win in Phoenix.
What’s Next?
The final race of the Eliminator Round is the Quicken Loans Race For Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. If a Chase driver wins this race, he will advance to the Championship Round. Harvick has won the last four races at that track.