Kyle Larson eliminated from the NASCAR Playoffs!

All scenarios had been considered for this last race of the Round of 12 on the Roval in Charlotte, but the elimination of Kyle Larson was certainly not one of the favored hypotheses. A touch from the reigning Champion, a power steering failure from Daniel Suarez and a final burst of pride from Chase Briscoe decided otherwise.

In 109 laps, the championship will change © Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

Once again lost in the depths of the ranking Daniil Kvyat was the first driver to retire after 20 short laps. The races come one after the other and the Russian still can't do it. Pole sitter Joey Logano, William Byron, and Daniel Suarez took the lead and led the entire first segment in that order.

After the neutralization at the end of the segment, AJ Allmendinger, who had celebrated his tenure for 2023 with Kaulig Racing with a victory the day before in the Xfinity Series, was placed in second position. Leading at full speed, he took the lead from Tyler Reddick on the 30th lap while his teammate Justin Haley 3rd completed the good performance of the Kaulig clan.

Reddick, already a winner twice this season on road circuits at Road America and Indianapolis, took the lead again at the start of the final stretch. On the 65th lap Daniel Suarez lost his power steering and slipped to the depths of the ranking, leaving the group of 8 drivers qualified for the next round of the Playoffs. A cruel disappointment for the Mexican Trackhouse Racing driver but a blessing for Chase Briscoe, in difficulty until then, who got his ticket for the next round.

Daniel Suarez will go to the limit to finish the race without power steering © Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The final round of green flag pit stops shuffled the cards, with Chase Elliott taking the reins of the race ahead of Reddick and Allmendinger.

While 25 laps from the finish Suarez went to the pits exhausted to try to repair his steering, his teammate Ross Chastain hit the wall damaging his right rear axle and had to return to his garage to repair it. A real revelation this season, Trackhouse Racing saw its day in North Carolina turn into a nightmare.

With 10 laps to go, it was the turn of reigning Champion Kyle Larson to stop in the pits to repair following a collision with the low wall. Larson returned to the track 7 laps behind but enough points ahead to qualify.

Four loops later, the first yellow flag of the race was waved in order to clear an advertising panel stranded in the middle of the track. The promise of a great final fight between Chase Elliott and AJ Allmendinger was taking shape, but Kevin Harvick put everyone in agreement while Elliott spun, well helped by Reddick. Clashes increased in the peloton and in total chaos the red flag was brought out to repair a damaged curb. Second, Christopher Bell then saw an opportunity to qualify and eliminate Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe or Kyle Larson from the final stages.

And suddenly, chaos © Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

From the third corner, Bell, taking advantage of fresher tires, got the better of Harvick to take the lead of the race and dynamite the championship. Austin Cindric then found himself the last qualified driver but made a mistake. The last qualifying place was then played out between Larson and Briscoe, and the latter threw his last strength into gaining 3 places in the last turns and eliminating Larson!

Christopher Bell had a splendid end to the race to win on a track that was not very favorable to his Toyota © Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

As cruel as this outcome was, Kyle Larson had only himself to blame and made no excuses in his first statements. A stupid touch puts an end to his title hopes, but it is above all his lack of consistency this season that must be blamed. In addition to Larson, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Alex Bowman are eliminated from the Playoffs.

Sad outcome for Kyle Larson in Charlotte © Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

With his record still empty of victory, Ryan Blaney will start the Round of 8 in Las Vegas next Sunday in a position to become the first champion NASCAR Cup Series to be titled without a win. Chase Elliott, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, Chase Briscoe and Joey Logano complete this Top 8 vying for the title.

Ranking of the Bank of America Roval 400 in Charlotte:

General Ranking after Charlotte:

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