Holy playoff implications batman!
The first stage of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway was filled with adversity for many playoff drivers, with a total of four of the remaining eight contenders having some sort of tire issue over the course of the 80-lap segment.
First, it was Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski, and now, both of those drivers have had a teammate with similar issues, with Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney both having to make unscheduled pit stops for flat tires.
Now, Martin Truex Jr. has problems!#NASCARPlayoffs x NBCSN pic.twitter.com/hn8p6wP57y
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 24, 2021
For Truex, it was multiple instances of wall contact with cut the tire down on the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry, one of which involved Brad Keselowski, forcing his flat tire earlier in the event. For Ryan Blaney, the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contender was running in fourth place, with a good shot at picking up stage points, before his tire went down on the back straightaway.
Now Ryan Blaney pits with a flat!
He was fourth, and would have picked up some stage points. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/fUdLRk0uWr
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 24, 2021
After the completion of the race’s first stage, Blaney was sitting P22, one lap down, while Truex was sitting further back in 28th. Kyle Busch was able to recover to capture stage points, while Brad Keselowski had fallen two laps down, ending the stage in 32nd.
