The NASCAR Cup Series caps off a triple header weekend and begins round two – the round of 12 – of the playoffs with the South Point 400 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Playoff drivers William Byron and Martin Truex Jr will have to start the race from the back of the field after their cars failed the pre-race inspection process multiple times. Byron was scheduled to start the race from third with Truex alongside in fourth. After just missing the cut last week, Aric Almirola was one of four drivers to be eliminated from the playoffs. Almirola’s car also failed the pre-race inspection process twice and will join Byron and Truex at the back of the field.

JJ Yeley’s number 66 car failed the inspection process three times; as a result, he will not only have to start the race from the back of the field; but will also have to serve a pass through penalty at the start of the race and lose his car chief Ty Brazeal for the race. The move will not affect Yeley any since he was already scheduled to start at the back of the pack.

Playoff driver and Las Vegas native Kyle Busch will make start number 600 when the green flag drops. Busch has a total of 222 race wins with 59 of them in the Cup Series.


Points leader Kyle Larson sits on the pole and will bring the field to green with Ryan Blaney starting alongside.

The starting lineup for the South Point 400:
Kyle Larson
Ryan Blaney
William Byron – moved to the back of the field
Martin Truex Jr – moved to the back of the field
Kevin Harvick
Denny Hamlin
Alex Bowman
Brad Keselowski
Joey Logano
Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott
Christopher Bell
Tyler Reddick
Matt DiBenedetto
Austin Dillon
Erik Jones
Aric Almirola – moved to the back of the field
Ross Chastain
Chase Briscoe
Kurt Busch
Bubba Wallace
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Michael McDowell
Ryan Preece
Chris Buescher
Daniel Suarez
Corey LaJoie
Cole Custer
Ryan Newman
Garrett Smithley
Josh Bilicki
Anthony Alfredo
Justin Haley
BJ McLeod
Cody Ware
Quin Houff
Joey Gase
JJ Yeley

Stages one and two of the race are 80 laps each with stage three lasting 107 laps for a total of 267 laps around the mile and a half track.

NASCAR has called for a competition caution on lap 25.

With a fuel load of 64 to 70 laps, the drivers cannot complete any of the stages on a single load of fuel.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane and edges out Ryan Blaney going into turn one, but after a push from Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney takes the lead.

Lap two, the top five are Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Brad Keselowski.

Lap three, Denny Hamlin takes second from Kyle Larson. Joey Logano takes fifth.

Lap five, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battling for second.

Lap six Ryan Blaney has a narrow lead on Denny Hamlin; Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson battle for third with Joey Logano rounding out the top five.

After starting the race from the back of the field, William Byron and Martin Truex Jr have entered the top 10.

Lap eight, Denny Hamlin passes Ryan Blaney to take the lead; Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Joey Logano round out the toop five,.

Lap 10, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Joey Logano round out the top five with 37 cars on the lead lap. After having to serve a pass though penalty upon race start, JJ Yeley is one lap dpwn.

Lap 12, Joey Gase makes an unscheduled trip down pit road.

Lap 18, Denny Hamlin has a third of a second lead on Ryan Blaney with Kyle Larson over a second back in third, Kyel Busch and Matt DiBenedetto round out the top five, William Byron has entered the top 10 with Martin Truex Jr in 19th.

Lap 21, Denny Hamlin pulls out to a lead of over half a second on Ryan Blaney; Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Matt DiBenedetto round out the top five.

Lap 26, NASCAR displays the yellow flag for the competition caution.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Busch winning the race off of pit road.

Joey Logano made a second trip down pit road to ensure all lug nuts were tight.

Kurt Busch had a slow pit stop after having to make repairs due to some on track contact with Christopher Bell.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lalne on lap 31 and goes side by side with Denny Hamlin in a battle for the lead. Going side by side, the duo swap the lead back and forth before Denny Hamlin finally edges out for the lead.

Lap 33, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Kyle Busch in second and Kyle Larson in third; Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.

There are 33 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 35, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Matt DiBenedetto.

Lap 37, Kevin Harvick takes fifth from Matt DiBenedetto.

Lap 38, Kyle Busch is on leader Denny Hamlin’s bumper with Kyle Larson right behind.

Lap 40, there are just two tenths of a second separating the top three drivers.

Kyle Larson takes second from Kyle Busch with Denny Hamlin leading the race.

Lap 45, Kyle Larson passes Denny Hamlin for the lead from the inside lane.

Lap 47, the top five are Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick.

Lap 50, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a half second lead on Kyle Busch; Denny Hamlin is in third place a second and a half back with Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five. There are 33 cars on the lead lap. William Byron is just outside the top five in sixth place after having to start the race from the back of the field.

Lap 54, there are 33 cars on the lead lap with no driver just one lap down.

Lap 55, William Byron passes Kevin Harvick for fifth.

Lap 56, fourth place driver Ryan Blaney is reporting a a vibration.

Lap 63, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over a second and a half on Kyle Busch; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron round out the top five.

Kevin Harvick reports that something is no right…maybe a tire. He does have a bit of damage to the car as a result of some on track contact.

Lap 69, Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly two seconds on Kyle Busch; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron round out the top five with 29 cars on the lead lap.

Air temperatures are 94 degrees with the on track temperature at 120 degrees. Temps inside the cars are also over 100 degrees.

Lap 70, Ryan Blaney is reporting that his cool suit is malfunctioning and is pumping out hot water.

Lap 75, Kyle Larson continues to lead the race with Kyle Busch nearly two seconds back; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron round out the top five with 24 cars on the lead lap.

Kyle Larson wins stage one for his 15th stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kyle Larson
Kyle Busch
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney
William Byron
Chase Elliott
Tyler Reddick
Kevin Harvick
Matt DiBenedetto
Martin Truex Jr

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin edging out Kyle Larson for the win off of pit road.

Aric Almirola was charged with equipment interference during his pit stop and will have to restart the race from the back of the field. Christopher Bell came down pit road while pit road was closed and will also have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 88 from the inside lane and with the help of a push from Ryan Blaney gets out in front for th lead.

Drivers are getting three and four wide across the track.

Lap 89, Kyle Larson passes Denny Hamlin for the lead.

Lap 90, Kyle Larson leads the race with Denny Hamlin in second; Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

William Byron passes team mate Chase Elliott for third.

Lap 92, a three way battle for the lead with William Byron taking the lead; Kyle Larson is in second with Denny Hamlin in third.

The caution flag comes out for a wreck involving Joey Gase. The rear end of his car is destroyed after Gase hits the wall after loosing a tire.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service. Kyle Busch made a pit stop due to a loose wheel.

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with Kyle Larson on the outside on lap 99 but it is Kyle Larson with a push from Chase Elliott who gets out in front for the lead.

Drivers get four wide going into tturn one.

Several drivers have had to make additional stops on pit road for loose lug nuts.

Lap 101, Kyle Larson leads the race with team mate Chase Elliott in second; William Byronj, Ryan Blaney, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Lap 102, Chase Elliott battles with Kyle Larson for the lead. Chase Elliott is the new leader.

Joey Gase and JJ Yeley are out of the race.

Lap 105, Kyle Larson has retaken the lead with William Byron ins second and Chase Elliott in third; Alex Bowman completes the Hendrick Motorsports sweep in fourth.

Lap 107, the top five drivers are separated by less than one second.

Lap 108, the top five are Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Alex Bowman with 25 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 117, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second on William Byron; Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 121, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a one second lead on William Byron; Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five with 25 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 124, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to nearly two seconds on William Byron.

Turns one and two are in shadow as the sun continues to move westward and setting.

The air temperature remains 94 degrees, but the track temperature has dropped to 104.

Thirty one laps remain in stage two; some of the drivers will have to make a pit stop for fuel before the end of the stage.

Lap 133, drivers who need fuel are beginning to make their pit stops.

Lap 134, Kyle Larson has a lead of over three seconds on Kyle Busch; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Tyelr Reddick round out the top five.

Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin battle for second.

Lap 137, Denny Hamlin takes second with Kyle Busch in third; Kyle Larson has a lead of over three seconds.

Lap 142, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to under two seconds on Denny Hamlin; Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Kyle Larson has to make a pit stop before the end of the stage; but he is waiting until the last possible moment to take advantage of a caution should one come out.

Eleven laps remain in stage two, Kyle Larson has a one second lead on Denny Hamlin; Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

There are 20 cars o the lead lap.

Lap 152, leader Kyle Larson makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Denny Hamlin with Kyle Busch in second; Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Five laps remain in stage two, there are 17 cars on the lread lap.

Alex Bowman gives up a top five spot to make a pit stop for fuel.

With less than two laps to the end of stage two, William Byron passes Ross Chastain to become the “lucky dog” at the end of the stage.

With a lead of over a second, Denny Hamlin wins stage two.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Busch
Tyler Reddick
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
Brad Keselowski
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Austin Dillon
Bubba Wallace

Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney all finished the stage one lap down but can take the wave around and get back on the lead lap.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin winning the race off of pit road.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three from the outside lane on lap 166 and goes side by side with team mate Martin Truex Jr. After a push from Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr takes the elad.

Lap 168, Denny Hamlin retakes the lead.

Lap 169, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, Tyler Reddick, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch. There are 22 cars on the lead lap.

After his hard crash into the wall, Joey Gase has been transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. Gase slammed the wall hard after loosing a tire.

Lap 171, Denny Hamlin has a narrow lead of Tyler Reddick; Martin Truex Jr, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch round out the otp five.

Lap 175, Denny Hamlin has a two tenths of a second lead on Tyler Reddick; Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Kyle Busch passes Kevin Harvick with brother Kurt on his bumper.

Lap 183, Denny Hamlin has a near half second lead on Tyler Reddick; Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

While Kyle Busch is making start number 600, big brother Kurt is making start number 750.

Lap 191, Tyler Reddick has closed the gap on leader Denny Hamlin to under half a second and is looking to challenge Hamlin for the lead.

Tyler Reddick and Kurt Busch are the only two drivers in the top 10 not in the playoffs.

Lap 202, Denny Having has pulled out to a second and a half lead on Tyler Reddick; Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott, and William Byron round out the top five with 22 cars on the lead lap.

As the night goes on, the track temperature continues to drop and is now 99 degrees. As the track cools, the drivers will find more grip and speeds will increase on the track.

With 62 laps remaining in the race, the drivers are now within their pit window to make it to the end of the race. A few of the drivers are taking advantage of the opportunity to pit earlier in order to get fresh tires and hopefully pass some cars on the track.

Lap 211, Kyle Busch makes his green flag pit stop.

Lap 212, team mate Martin Truex Jr makes his green flag pit stop and begins the parade of drivers coming down pit road for service.

Lap 215, leader Denny Hamlin makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over the Tyler Reddick.

Alex Bowman had to make a second trip down pit road for a loose tire.

Lap 218, Tyler Reddick makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Brad Keselowski.

Brad Keselowski and Austin Dillon are the only drivers who have not made a pit stop.

Only 43 laps remain in the race. Austin Dillon is the new leader after Brad Keselowski made his pit stop.

William Byron reports a flat tire and has to make an unscheduled trip down pit road.

Lap 226, Austin Dillon leads the race with Denny Hamlin in second; Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Alex Bowman’s loose wheel was a punctured tire.

Lap 229, Austin Dillon is the last driver to make his green flag pit stop. Denny Hamlin is the new leader and has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott; Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five with 17 cars on the lead lap.

Joey Logano is reporting an issue with his car with a possible loose tire.

Kyle Busch reports that he hit something and now has damage to the left front of his car.

Only 24 laps remain in the race; Denny Hamlin leads the race with Chase Elliott in second; Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five. There are 14 cars on the lead lap.

Denny Hamlin has a second and a half lead on Chase Elliott with Kyle Busch in third; Martin Truex Jr and Tyler Reddick round out the top five with 13 cars on the lead lap.

Twenty to go, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a lead of nearly two seconds on Chase Elliott with Kyle Busch in third.

Seventeen to go, Denny Hamlin has encountered slower traffic. There are now 12 cars on the lead lap. Hamlin’s lead on Chase Elliott is down to just over a second.

Twelve to go, Denny Hamlin continues to lead the race with Chase Elliott over a second behind; Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Seven to go, Denny Hamlin holds on to a one second lead on Chase Elliott with Kyle Busch over eleven seconds back in third.

Five to go, Denny Hamlin encounters slower traffic; Chase Elliott is under a second in front of Chase Elliott.

Denny Hamlin takes the white flag with a lead of two tenths of a second on Chase Elliott.

After winning the first race in round one of the playoffs, Denny Hamlin wins the first race of round two in the playoffs to secure his spot in the next round of the playoffs with his first Las Vegas win. Hamlin led 137 of the 267 laps in the race.

The unofficial results of the South Point 400:
Denny Hamlin
Chase Elliott
Kyle Busch
Martin Truex Jr
Ryan Blaney
Tyler Reddick
Brad Keselowski
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Larson
Joey Logano
Matt DiBenedetto
Austin Dillon
Chase Briscoe
Daniel Suarez
Bubba Wallace
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
William Byron
Aric Almirola
Ryan Newman
Michael McDowell
Alex Bowman
Ross Chastain
Christopher Bell
Chris Buescher
Erik Jones
Anthony Alfredo
Ryan Preece
Cole Custer
Corey LaJoie
Cody Ware
Justin Haley
BJ McLeod
Quin Houff
Garrett Smithley
Josh Bilicki
Joey Gase
JJ Yeley