AP Photo/Mike Caudill
Petty GMS Motorsports driver Erik Jones, a non-playoff racer, was racing Sunday night at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. ) won the first NASCAR Cup Series playoff race of 2022 in the Cook Out Southern 500
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
RETWEET Congrats @Erik_Jones !
@PettyGMS # 43 returns to victory lane, shocking #NASCARPlayoffs win in Darlington. pic.twitter.com/v1hFWokkZ5
The win marked Jones’ second win in the Southern 500. He is also the 17th different winner of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, and the first non-playoff driver to win the Cup’s first playoff race.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott enters playoffs with 2,040 points after winning regular season title, but Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson and a few other drivers found themselves ahead of his performance in the playoff standings after the night ended.
Cooking South Top 500 List Eric Jones Danny Hamlin Taylor R.E. Dick Joey Logano Christopher Bell
Michael McDowell Brad Keselowski
William Bye Lun Baba Wallace Alex Bowman
Full results are available at NASCAR.com.
NASCAR CUP SERIES AFTER SEASON Tournament standings
Joey Logano: 2065 points
William Byron: 2,059 points
Christopher Bell: 2,055 points Tyler Redick: 2,050 points Ryan Blaney: 2,047 points
- Kyle Larson: 2,044 points
Roth Chastain: 2,042 points Chasing Elliott: 2,041 points
Austin Cindric: 2,027 pointsAustin Dillo n: 2,025 points
Ending the routine in fifth place William Byron, of the race, won the first stage in a cautious manner, his first stage victory since April. Elliott slid on lap 113 of the 367-lap race and collected Chase Briscoe to take the yellow flag in the process. NBC Sports @NBC Sports
@NASCAR regular season champ out 1st game #NASCARPlayoffs .
Chase Elliott retires from the Darlington South 500 stage after his first crash. 📺: @USA_Network pic.twitter. com/kq34jdcBjN
Elliott was ruled out for the remainder of the race because his team was unable to repair his No. 9 Chevy. Under the damaged vehicle policy, the team had 10 minutes to make repairs, but Elliott’s car was too far away to be repaired.
The 26-year-old had just one last point in the playoffs, scoring 2,041 points.
Asked what he needed in order to get closer to the rest of the first round, Elliott replied: “Better than We ran better today.”
Noah Lewis (NASCAR) @ Noah_Lewis1
. @chaseelliott on upcoming race: “Running better than we did today.” #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ymNm0NAqDV
After winning the first stage, Byron finished fifth The results completed the second period in which Kyle Busch defeated non-playoff teammate Martin Truex Jr. For his third stage victory this year. NASCAR on TSN @NASCARonTSN
Stage 2 Winner: @KyleBusch
The IF 18 goes to the next round #NASCARPlayoffs
Free Pass: @KyleLarsonRacin , he’s back in the lead lap
Next up is the final phase of the #Southern500 . #NASCAR pictures. twitter.com/0VbgFT536k
On lap 275 of Stage 3, Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Ford caught fire when the front rocker plate caught fire. He jumped out of the car and was taken to a care center, while the rest of the drivers continued to cruise under the yellow flag.
NASCAR on TSN @NASCARonTSN
Harvick burns out! 🔥
As he managed to escape the smoky cockpit, there was a terrifying fire in the No. 4 engine.
Another #NASCARPlayoffs driver has major issues in #Southern500 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/FtHnwhPOza
Speaking to NBC Sports after being ruled out of Sunday’s game, Harvick expressed He was disappointed with the NextGen race car and blamed “crappy ass parts” and called the situation a “disaster.” NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
A frustrated Kevin Harvick explains what happened when the car caught fire. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/VK35Bal3kv
At the time, Harvick didn’t seem like much to say, but more problems with next-gen cars led to a wild end to Sunday’s race.
With just 32 laps left, it looks like Martin Truex Jr. is running away in the race and is heading towards becoming the 17th winner of the season direction forward. However, his No. 19 Toyota started to suffer mechanical problems and he was forced to pit before being ruled out for the rest of the race.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
Martin Truex Jr. has overheating issues, leaving Kyle Busch ) overtake him for the lead!
Be at @TooToughToTame in less than 30 laps. #NASCARPlayoffs
📺 : @USA_Network pic.twitter.com/ME1DCSDyNF
NASCAR on TSN @NASCARonTSN “This is tough.”
Frustrated @MartinTruex_Jr this season due to #Southern500 #NASCAR pictures. twitter.com/O7DkzLz0VC
At this point, Busch passed Truex for the lead. However, with 22 laps remaining, the race was again put on a cautious note as Busch’s No. 18 Toyota also started to suffer some mechanical problems.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBC
Kyle Busch’s motor exploded!
What a #NASCARPlayoffs opener! ? pic.twitter.com/WS4NWrUHOv
With 20 laps left, Jones took the green flag and held on to the lead for the win. Denny Hamlin pushed hard for the lead with just six laps left, but it was too late for the No. 11 Toyota.
NASCAR Cup Series playoffs to continue on September 11 at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway conduct.
