The 2025 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

It's time for the first gamble of the round of 8. We headed from Queen City to the desert mountains of Nevada, but we took the speed with us. Las Vegas is one of many intermediate tracks encountered in the season, but this one has more importance than the others. With Talladega and Martinsville being considered "Wild Card" races, it's the best shot that you've got at making the championship 4, or else you'll have to suffer the high banks in Alabama and the shap turns of the Paper Clip. Good luck boys.  

The first yellow flag shook up the playoffs. Playoff contender Ryan Blaney had a left front tire go down in turn 4, resulting in heavy damage after contact with the wall. This would ultimately take him out of the race, and get rid of one shot at the championship 4. He should probably feel pretty good after winning at Martinsville in the fall twice in last couple years, though.

More problems occurred when playoff driver Chase Briscoe got on the radio and told his crew cheif that he thought the toe was knocked out on his Bass Pro Shops car. It didn't seem to be affecting him, though. He was running in the sixth position at the time.

A massive incident took place on lap 236 between Ty Dillon and race leader William Byron. Ty was trying to come to the pits, and there was no signal whatsoever to support his actions. Plus, he tried to pit from the second lane, and it was after the pit cycle had occurred. This miscommunication resulted in the 24 ramming the Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, and taking them both out of the race. John Hunter Nemechek spun across pit road as well.

With one lap to go, the lead trio had pulled away from the rest of the pack. Within that trio was Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin. Hamlin had taken the lead before the final lap, and Larson and Briscoe were battling for second. Larson would end up winning that battle, but folks, your first championship 4 driver is Denny Hamlin.

Wow, a lot happened during that race, and there's plenty more to come. We're heading to Alabama to visit the highest banks in NASCAR, and a place that is good at generating what we call "The Big One"