Chris Buescher made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle on Sunday, claiming victory in a thrilling overtime race after a nail-biting final lap battle. Earlier in the season, Buescher came heartbreakingly close to a win at Kansas, only to lose by the narrowest of margins. But this time, he was determined to take home the checkered flag. In the closing moments of the race, Buescher pulled off an impressive move, passing Shane van Gisbergen on the final lap of overtime. This win marked his first victory of the season, solidifying his place as a serious contender in the field.
In an unexpected twist, Sunday’s race was dominated by non-playoff drivers, with the top five finishers all being outside the championship race. Following Buescher’s victory, Shane van Gisbergen secured second place, while young standout Carson Hocevar claimed third, his best career finish. Ross Chastain followed closely in fourth, and Zane Smith rounded out the top five, posting his best road course finish to date.
It was also a historic day for Spire Motorsports, who achieved a milestone by placing all three of their cars in the top 10 for the first time ever. Carson Hocevar’s third-place finish marked a personal best, while Zane Smith, finishing fifth, added another impressive result to his road course resume. Corey LaJoie, meanwhile, crossed the line in eighth, securing his first-ever top 10 finish on a road course. The team’s performance was a true testament to their hard work and growing strength in the series.
Chase Briscoe, who entered the race ranked last among playoff drivers, also had a day to celebrate. He finished sixth, earning 43 points in the process, and moved up in the standings to 11th place. More importantly, his strong showing kept him in the hunt for a spot in the next round of the playoffs. His effort was particularly impressive, as he scored at least 10 points more than any other playoff contender in the race.
Another exciting highlight came from 18-year-old Connor Zilisch, who made his mark in Saturday’s Xfinity race by winning in his series debut. The young driver, part of Trackhouse Racing’s development program, has been on an impressive streak this year. He can now add his Xfinity win to a string of victories that includes an LMP2 win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, another LMP2 victory at Sebring, and four ARCA wins. Zilisch is quickly establishing himself as a rising star in motorsports.
But while some drivers celebrated success, others had a tough day at the office. Denny Hamlin, in particular, faced a frustrating race. After a disappointing strategy call in Atlanta, Hamlin was looking for a strong result to get back on track. Instead, his race unraveled almost immediately. He started in 22nd, got caught in an accident on the first lap, and was involved in another incident later in the race. He eventually finished in 23rd place, dropping six points below the playoff cutline heading into Bristol. Hamlin, who has won the last two races at Bristol, will now need to deliver another big performance to keep his championship hopes alive.
Ryan Blaney also had a day to forget. Entering the race as the points leader, Blaney had high expectations, but his race ended almost as soon as it started. After qualifying 30th, he was caught up in a crash on the opening lap and finished dead last in the 38-car field. His premature exit from the race was a blow to his playoff campaign.
Brad Keselowski, Buescher’s teammate, didn’t fare much better. Despite the high of celebrating Buescher’s win, Keselowski had a rough day on the track. He was hit with two penalties on pit road and later got tangled up in a crash, which led to a disappointing 26th place finish. He now sits 12 points away from the playoff cutline, a setback considering he was only one point out of the cutline entering the race.
Martin Truex Jr. also left the race feeling frustrated. After battling hard throughout, he found himself caught in a late-race incident that damaged his car. Truex managed to finish in 20th place, but his result was far from what he had hoped for. Following the race, he expressed his displeasure with how things unfolded, calling the racing towards the end “ridiculous.” Like Hamlin and Keselowski, Truex now finds himself below the cutline as the series heads to Bristol for the next race.
In a race full of twists, thrilling finishes, and unexpected results, Sunday’s competition set the stage for a dramatic showdown as the playoffs continue.
