Darlington is the final likelihood for love for a lot of drivers to punch their ticket to the playoffs. That is the final alternative for a lot of drivers to show a tough season round and no less than have an opportunity on the championship and a Cinderella story. Earlier this yr within the first spherical at Darlington Chris Buescher who at present sits on the lower line 21 factors above Bubba Wallace led the race late solely to get caught up in a collision with Tyler Reddick preventing for the lead.
Darlington: The Girl in Black
Darlington is understood by many names, The Girl In Black, and The Monitor Too Robust To Tame on account of how troublesome it’s to run quick right here and the way really on the sting it’s important to be. The quickest line across the 1.37-mile egg-shaped oval is true up by the wall, as shut as you’ll be able to with out hitting the wall. The tires will fade and fade rapidly they usually have to be taken care of to final all the stint. Pit Highway isn’t a haven both, it is without doubt one of the hardest pit roads to get on and keep underneath the pit highway pace. Victory Lane at Darlington is reserved just for the perfect of the perfect.
Not like earlier this yr this race is 500 miles. Drivers should survive an additional 100 miles to say victory which suggests one or two, perhaps three additional pit stops an additional hour of racing, and coping with the treacherous circumstances contained in the automotive this time within the humid South Carolina warmth. This race will check the drivers bodily and mentally. Additionally, we now have so as to add on the stress of a number of drivers who have to win the race to qualify for the NASCAR Playoffs.
Should Win for A number of Drivers
That is the ultimate race earlier than the Cup Sequence Playoffs start. Chris Buescher is at present on the cutline 21 factors above it. Buescher doesn’t want a win to get in however cannot afford a first-time winner like at Daytona final week. Ought to a brand new winner emerge at Darlington and it’s not Ty Gibbs and Martin Truex Jr. he will probably be on the surface wanting in. Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain are slightly below the cutline by 21 and 27 factors respectively in concept can level their method in however will probably be a troublesome ask particularly given how nicely Buescher has run right here.
The opposite drivers beneath Ross Chastain within the level standings cannot level their method in, they need to win as a way to qualify for the playoff, (and cleanly by NASCAR’s imaginary requirements). Two-time Cup Sequence Champion Kyle Busch is the headliner for many who have to win to get into the playoffs. Stewart HAAS vehicles Chase Briscoe and Josh Berry are superb at tracks like Darlington Briscoe out dueling Kyle Busch within the Xfinity race in 2020. Josh Berry has three prime 10s within the Xfinity Sequence and a third-place end earlier this yr within the cup sequence.
It’s all on the road Sunday Evening. For 12 drivers their solely path to the playoff is a victory at one of many hardest tracks in NASCAR. Erik Jones is a two-time winner at Darlington and should make it a 3rd if he desires to punch his ticket to playoffs. Kyle Busch has tamed the monitor too robust to tame, this race can and can change a number of occasions on the drop of the monitor itself will change a number of occasions all through the 500-mile race whoever will get snug being uncomfortable will come out of the race a winner at one of many crown jewel occasions of NASCAR.
