Observe: The quotes on this article are fictional.
1. William Byron: Byron gained Stage 1 and completed second within the Hollywood On line casino 400.
“I chased Ross Chastain over the closing laps,” Byron mentioned. “I wasn’t capable of catch him, so I apologize to my staff, my followers, and the watermelon that was murdered.”
2. Alex Bowman: Bowman gained Stage 2 and completed sixth within the Hollywood On line casino 400.
“I’m simply glad to have a stable end within the first race of the Spherical Of 12,” Bowman mentioned. “What do you do in a Hollywood On line casino? You shoot craps. What’s a Playoff race at Talladega? A crap shoot.”
3. Ross Chastain: Chastain led 52 laps and held off William Byron down the stretch to win the Hollywood On line casino 400.
“After all, I’m not a Playoff driver,” Chastain mentioned, “and that takes a bit of bit off the luster of a race win. That’s why the sound of a watermelon going ‘splat’ is principally the identical sound as my championship hopes crashing just a few weeks in the past.”
4. Christopher Bell: Bell began on the pole and completed seventh within the Hollywood On line casino 400.
“I tapped the wall in the direction of the ends of each Stage 1 and Stage 2,” Bell mentioned. “I’ve heard someplace that doing that is known as a ‘double-tap.’ ‘Double-tapping’ is an effective method to not win a race. One other ‘double-tap’ is beginning on the pole, main essentially the most laps, and nonetheless not successful.”
5. Kyle Larson: Larson blew a tire and hit the wall on Lap 20, all however ending his possibilities for the win. Larson recovered to attain a Twenty sixth-place end.
“I used to be nowhere close to as sturdy as I used to be at Bristol,” Larson mentioned. “At Bristol, I used to be on one other planet, which can also be the place Hendrick wished to ship me again in 2020.”
6. Denny Hamlin: A free wheel halfway by way of the race derailed Hamlin’s hopes for a win at Kansas. However the No. 11 staff battled again to seize an eighth-place end.
“I believe we’re gonna be a bit of smarter about our race technique at Talladega,” Hamlin mentioned. “By ‘a bit of smarter,’ I imply ‘have one.’”
7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney produced his finest drive of the Playoffs with a fourth at Kansas.
“I really feel like I’m peaking on the proper time,” Blaney mentioned. “A couple of weeks in the past, Tyler Reddick was puking on the mistaken time.”
8. Joey Logano: Logano completed 14th within the Hollywood On line casino 400.
“I wouldn’t wish to be the man that wrecked Kyle Busch whereas he was main a race,” Logano mentioned. “No different driver desires to get on Kyle’s unhealthy aspect, but it surely’s nearly not possible as a result of that’s the one aspect Kyle has.”
9. Chase Elliott: Elliott battled lengthy odds to salvage a ninth-place end at Kansas.
“I needed to begin on the rear after my No. 9 Chevy developed engine points in observe,” Elliott mentioned. “That’s actually not the best way you wish to begin the Spherical Of 12. That was actually the ‘Worst Chase Situation.’”
10. Tyler Reddick: Reddick struggled to a twenty fifth at Kansas.
“Michael Jordan was actually excited,” Reddick mentioned, “to see the ‘Guess MGM’ brand on Kyle Busch’s automobile. Normally, when Michael sees that brand on a automobile, it’s the courtesy shuttle taking him to the on line casino.”
