Eliminated from the title race at the end of the regular season, Bubba Wallace imposes in Kansas the number 45 inherited from Kurt Busch for the end of the season. His teammate of the 23XI, insufficiently recovered from his accident at Pocono, had brilliantly qualified his car for the playoffs and must be delighted this evening to see it still in contention for the owner’s title, failing to be able to defend his chances for the driver’s championship himself. .
We are winners once more! Proud of @BubbaWallace and @23XIRacing for getting it done today. ???????? pic.twitter.com/QkEFkcNqsO
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) September 11, 2022
With two drivers eliminated from the playoffs victorious in the first two rounds of the Round of 16, the first stage of the playoffs, this 2022 season is still more undecided. Although no driver has yet been officially eliminated from the race for the title, Kevin Harvick has however greatly complicated his task by hitting the wall on the 33rd lap following being undone by the winner of the day Bubba Wallace. For Harvick salvation can now only come with a victory next weekend in Bristol.
Bubba Wallace, #45 Toyota Camry © Chris Graythen/Getty Images
30 laps later, poleman Tyler Reddick also made a mistake. A cruel disappointment for the Richard Childress Racing driver at the heart of many discussions this weekend. Kyle Busch, looking for a steering wheel for the next season, has indeed been announced by many informed observers leaving for his team next season. By his side or in his place? The question remains open since the arrival of the youngest of the Busch brothers might, in the event of the retirement of his older brother Kurt, open the door to an early departure from Reddick to 23XI Racing, with which he has already signed up. for 2024. We will know more in the coming weeks…
Kyle Busch anime le mercato © Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
If the second segment was particularly animated with 4 neutralizations, the last section of 102 laps was crystal clear, and at the end of the last refueling it was a hat-trick Toyota which emerged for the final victory. A great animator of the race with 107 laps out of the 267 in the event, Alex Bowman quickly had to settle for 4th place while Bubba Wallace took the lead ahead of Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin.
Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin united in victory © Chris Graythen/Getty Images
With 10 laps to go, the tension rose a notch when Denny Hamlin broke the Bell lock and set off in pursuit of Bubba Wallace. A tasty situation since Hamlin is none other than the co-owner, with Michael Jordan, of the 23XI team which runs Wallace! The latter did not tremble in tracing his way to a second career victory following his success last season in Talladega. Christopher Bell can console himself by being the first driver to qualify on points for the Round of 12.
Saturday evening, the Bristol ax race will definitively eliminate 4 drivers from the fight for the 2022 Championship title. After this round, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe and Kevin Harvick are in the eye of the storm.
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