Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe, both contenders in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, were eliminated from the opening race of the playoffs during the first stage of the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Larson, who held the highest position in the points standings among playoff drivers going into the 267-lap event, lost control of his car at a speed of 160 miles per hour, causing him to crash into the wall.
As Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet skidded across the track after hitting the wall, Briscoe collided with the spinning vehicle. Larson expressed uncertainty about the cause of his car’s loss of control. Briscoe attempted to avoid the collision by moving low but was unsuccessful. The incident has put Briscoe in a “must-win” scenario for the next race at Watkins Glen International if he hopes to advance in the championship chase. Briscoe had secured his playoff spot just a week earlier by winning the final race of the regular season at Darlington.
The crash, which was the sole caution of the first stage, allowed Ryan Blaney to win that stage. For more information, contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or via X @MikeOrganWriter.
Kyle Larson Unsure What Caused Race-Ending Crash at Atlanta, Fellow Playoff Driver Affected
Kyle Larson entered Sunday’s playoff race with the highest points total but ended up with a did-not-finish (DNF) after a dramatic turn of events. With just five laps remaining in the first stage, Larson’s car suddenly lost traction, causing him to spin and crash into the wall. When Larson’s car rebounded onto the track, it was hit by fellow playoff driver Chase Briscoe, resulting in both drivers being knocked out of the race.
Both drivers were examined by infield medics and have been cleared. Larson told NASCAR on NBC, “I’m okay. Thankfully, everything inside the car held up well. That was a massive hit. I’m not entirely sure what caused the car to get loose. I was tight as I entered the corner, and it stepped out unexpectedly. Everything happened so quickly. I was already committed to the corner when it went loose, and I overcorrected. It’s really disappointing.”
Despite this setback, Larson remains a few spots above the cutline and will aim to strengthen his position at Watkins Glen and Bristol as he seeks to win his second championship, his first having been secured in 2021. Conversely, Briscoe now faces a critical “must-win” situation at either Watkins Glen or Bristol to keep his playoff hopes alive. He currently stands 33 points behind the cutline in 16th place.
However, not all is lost for Briscoe and Stewart-Haas Racing, who managed to secure a playoff spot by winning the final regular season race. “It’s unfortunate,” Briscoe commented. “We’re now in a must-win situation. We were in a similar position last week, and we need to perform well at Watkins Glen and Bristol, two tracks where we have had success.”
NASCAR Cup Series playoffs favorite Kyle Larson knocked out of Atlanta race
