Roval points, results: Christopher Bell catapulted into the next round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs by taking the checkered flag Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Chase Briscoe captured the last of eight championship-eligible spots in the next three races.
Defending series champion Kyle Larson was eliminated from the playoffs after finishing five laps down in 35th because of a late mechanical problem from wall contact.
Bell led the final two laps to win on the 17-turn, 2.32-mile road course for his third victory in NASCAR’s premier series. Kevin Harvick finished second, followed by Kyle Busch, AJ Allmendinger and Justin Haley.
Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe and Austin Dillon rounded out the top 10. Briscoe rebounded from the brink of elimination after falling to 25th on Lap 107 of 112 after being spun on a restart.
RESULTS: Click here for where everyone finished l Click here for the race report
It’s the second victory of the season for Bell, who also on at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was in a must-win situation entering the Roval after disappointing finishes outside the top 15 at Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
It’s the sixth time a driver advanced by winning a cutoff race in the NASCAR elimination playoffs, which started in 2014.
Nearly 90 minutes after the race, NASCAR announced a review of the data, video and radio transmissions from the No. 41 Ford of Cole Custer, who finished 24th after slowing dramatically on the final lap near Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Briscoe. The Round of 8 would be unaffected by any potential penalties for the team.
Statement:
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 9, 2022
NASCAR is reviewing data, video and radio transmissions from the 41 car following its incident on the backstretch during the final lap. NASCAR will communicate the results of the review early this week. Any potential penalties would not affect the Round of 8 field.
POINTS
Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez and Austin Cindric were eliminated from the playoffs after the second round as the field was narrowed from 12 to eight drivers.
Regular season champion Chase Elliott will enter the third round opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the points lead in the reseeded standings, ahead of Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe.
RESEEDED POINTS FOR ROUND 3: Click here for reseeded driver points l Click here for reseeded team owner points
ROUND 2 POINTS: Click here for driver points l Click here for team owner points
