Just past the halfway point of NASCAR Cup Series practice from Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and already an on-track incident has already impacted the Owner’s Playoffs, entering the opening race of the ‘Round of 8’.
Chase Elliott, driving the No. 9 LLumar Window Films Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, will be going to a backup car, after cutting a right-rear tire at the entrance of the third corner, sending his car into the outside wall.
CRASH: Chase Elliott.
Elliott hits the wall in practice. He's competing for the owner's championship for the No. 9 team. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Y7s2vbc5Z7
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 14, 2023
While the Dawsonville, Georgia native isn’t eligible for the championship from the driver’s side, the No. 9 Chevrolet is still eligible for the Owner’s Playoffs, after advancing into the ‘Round of 8’ despite not scoring a victory on the season.
Elliott and the No. 9 team will move to a backup car for Sunday’s 400-mile contest at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and thus will not be permitted to post a qualifying lap, and will start from 36th.
“Just cut a right-rear tire – I’m not sure why, I had run 15 or so laps, so maybe I ran too long, I’m not sure,” Elliott said after exiting the infield care center. “It’s a bummer, though. I knew it was a tire, for sure, I just couldn’t get stopped enough to keep it out of the wall. Definitely a bummer, but it’s been like that all year.”
