Bubba Wallace heroic winner in Kansas

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 in 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 the running for the owner's title, failing to be able to defend his chances in the driver's championship himself. .

We are winners again! 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 elimination phases, this 2022 season is still more undecided. If no driver is yet officially eliminated from the title race, Kevin Harvick however made his task much more complicated by hitting the wall on the 33rd lap after being blown away 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, pole sitter 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 driver for next season, has indeed been announced by many informed observers as leaving for his team next season. At his side or in his place? The question remains open since the arrival of the younger Busch brother could, in the event of the retirement of his older brother Kurt, open the door to an early departure of Reddick towards 23XI Racing with which he is already committed. for 2024. We will know more in the coming weeks…

Kyle Busch hosts the transfer window © Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

If the second segment was particularly lively with 4 neutralizations, the last section of 102 laps was clear, and at the end of the last refueling, a Toyota hat-trick emerged for the final victory. Great leader of the race with 107 laps led out of the 267 in the event, Alex Bowman quickly had to settle for 4th place in the final 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 blew 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 races Wallace! The latter did not tremble as he traced his route to a second career victory after his success last season at Talladega. Christopher Bell can console himself by being the first driver qualified on points for the Round of 12.

Saturday evening, the Bristol race will definitively eliminate 4 drivers from the fight for the 2022 Champion title. After this round, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe and Kevin Harvick are in the eye of the storm.

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