The Cup Series Kicks off the round of eight in the playoffs with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  The round of eight is the final round of the playoffs before the championship race in Phoenix.

After last week’s elimination; William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney remain as the eight drivers in a battle for the championship.

Carson Hocevar returns to drive the Legacy Motor Club number 42 car.  LMC has announced that Hocevar will finish out the season in the 42 car.  Earlier in the week, Spire Motorsports announced that Hocevar would be driving the number 77 car beginning next season after the young driver has signed a multi-year deal.

AJ Allmendinger’s win at the Roval was the first win by a non-playoff driver in the playoffs this season.  Allmendinger has announced that he will be back at Kaulig Racing next season; but has not revealed in what capacity it will be.

The drivers have been divided into two groups with each group having 20 minutes of practice.  Each group will make a single car qualifying run with the top five drivers moving on to a second round of qualifying to set the pole.

Chase Elliott brings out the red flag with eleven minutes remaining in Group A practice after getting into the wall.  Elliott reported a tire issue before the wreck.  Just before Elliott hit the wall, teammate Kyle Larson brought his car down pit road with a tire issue.  Larson’s tire shows some blistering after just 15 laps.

Out of the infield care center, Chase Elliott said that he cut a tire prior to hitting the wall; saying that he just couldn’t get it slowed down in time to keep it off the wall.

At the end of Group A practice, Tyler Reddick sits at the top of the leaderboard.

Daniel Suarez gets into the wall and brings out the red flag with just over two minutes remaining in practice.

After Group B practice, Melon Man Ross Chastain sits at the top of the leaderboard.

The first driver to make a qualifying run is Brennan Poole who posts a time of 30.192 seconds.

Out of the infield care center, Daniel Suarez said that he had a tire issue prior to hitting the wall.

Kyle Busch, Bubba Walace, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr, and Tyler Reddick will all be moving on to round two of qualifying.  Kyle Larson is the first driver to break the 29 second mark with a time of 28, 964 seconds.

BJ McLeod is the first driver from Group B on the track for a qualifying run and posted a time of 29.875 seconds.

From Group B; Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell with a 28.938 seconds, Chris Buescher, and William Byron will move on to round two of qualifying.

After crashing during practice Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez did not make a qualifying run.

Six of the top 10 drivers are playoff drivers.

The first driver of the top 10 on the track is Tyler Reddick with a time of 29.129 seconds.

Kyle Larson is  first driver to break the 29 second mark with a time of 28, 990 seconds.

With a time of 28.980 seconds Christopher Bell puts his number 20 car on the pole for the sixth time this season.  He beat out Kyle Larson by one hundredth of a second.

The starting lineup for the Sout Point 400:
Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson
William Byron
Martin Truex Jr
Chris Buescher
Kyle Busch
Bubba Wallace
Tyler Reddick
Joey Logano
Ross Chastain
Ty Gibbs
Ryan Blaney
Aric Almirola
Alex Bowman
Denny Hamlin
Austin Dillon
Chase Briscoe
Michael McDowell
Austin Cindric
Justin Haley
Brad Keselowski
AJ Allmendinger
Erik Jones
Kevin Harvick
Carson Hocevar
JJ Yeley
Ty Dillon
Corey LaJoie
Todd Gilliland
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
BJ McLeod
Ryan Preece
Harrison Burton
Brennan Poole
Chase Elliott
Daniel Suarez

During the first pit stop of the race, Nick and Tori will be getting married behind the number four pit box in the pits with the Busch Guy officiating the ceremony.  Nick proposed to Tori at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the couple are from St Louis – the home of Anheiser-Busch.

After crashes during practice, Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez are starting from the back of the field in backup cars.

Stage one is 80 laps long, stage two is 85 laps long, and stage three is 102 laps in length for a total of 367 laps around the mile and a half track.  The drivers can run around 66 laps on a single load of fuel and will have to make at least one pit stop during each of the stages.

Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane with Kyle Larson alongside.  After getting a push from Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell gets out in front for the lead with teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron in a battle for second.

Lap two, Christopher Bell leads the race with Kyle Larson in second; William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.

Lap three, Kyle Larson comes up on the inside lane and passes Christopher Bell for the lead.

Lap four, Kyle Larson has the lead with Christopher Bell in second; William Byron and Martin Truex Jr battle for third with Chris Buescher rounding out the top five.

Lap seven, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on Christopher Bell; Martin Truex Jr, Chris Buescher, and William Byron round out the top five.

Ten laps into the race, Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez have only advanced a couple of spots since the race start.

Brad Keselowski brushes the wall but the track stays green.

Lap 12, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to over half a second on Christopher Bell; Martin Truex Jr, Chris Buescher, and William Byron round out the top five.

Lap 21, Kyle Larson holds on to a half second lead on Christopher Bell; Martin Truex Jr, Chris Buescher, and William Byron round out the top five.  Denny Hamlin is the only playoff driver not in the top 10.

Lap 24, Christopher Bell has closed the gap on leader Kyle Larson to un a quarter of a second.

Lap 27, Kyle Larson has pulled away to a third of a second lead on Christopher Bell; Martin Truex Jr, Chris Buescher, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Lap 29, Christopher Bell passes Kyle Larson to retake the lead.

Lap 31, Martin Truex Jr battles Kyle Larson for second and takes the spot.

Lap 31, Austin Dillon begins the cycle of green flag pit stops.

Ross Chastain was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.

Lap 38, leader Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr make their green flag pit stops and give the lead over to Todd Gilliland.

Todd Gilliland comes down pit road and gives the lead over the JJ Yeley.

Kyle Larson passes JJ Yeley to take the lead.

Lap 41, the top five are Kyle Larson, JJ Yeley, Brennan Poole, Christopher Bell, and Martin Truex Jr.

Green flag pit stops are complete; Kyle Larson leads the race with Christopher Bell in second; Martin Truex Jr, Chris Buescher, and William Byron round out the top five.

Lap 46, leader Kyle Larson has encountered slower traffic and begins to lap cars. 

Lap 48, there are 25 cars on the lead lap; Chase Elliott is among the cars one lap down; Daniel Suarez is in 22nd on the lead lap.

Lap 50, Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly two seconds on Christopher Bell; Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron round out the top five.

Lap 53, there are 22 cars on the lead lap – Daniel Suarez is the last car on the lead lap.

Lap 54, Kyle Lars has a near two and a half second lead on Christopher Bell; Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Blaney, and Willaim Byron round out the top five.

Running the fastest laps on the track, Kyle Larson has a near three second lead on Christopher Bell on lap 61; Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron round out the top five.

Lap 63, Kyle Larson continues to lap cars; there are now just 21 cars on the lead lap.

The first caution flag of the race comes out on lap 66 for a flat tire on Erik Jones’ car.

Drivers come down pit road for fresh tires and adjustments with Christopher Bell winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.  Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, and Aric Almirola also took only two tires with the end of stage one coming up.

Several drivers take the wave around to get back on the lead lap.

Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 10 laps remaining in stage one with Kyle Larson alongside.  Larson and Bell go side by side with Kyle Larson finally getting out in front with eight laps to go in stage one.

Drivers are getting three wide across the track.

With six laps remaining in stage one, the drivers are running like it is the end of the race.

Four laps remain n stageo ne with Kyle Larson a half second out in front.

Erik Jones and BJ McLeod are the only drivers not on the lead lap.

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

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Brad Keselowski
Tyler Reddick
Martin Truex Jr
Ryan Blaney
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
William Byron

Chris Buescher is the only playoff driver who did not earn any stage points.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Corey LaJoie winning the race off of pit road after taking fuel only.  Denny Hamlin came out second with just two tires.  Martin Truex Jr stayed out on the track.

Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Denny Hamlin alongside on lap 87.  Drivers spread out three and four wide on the restart with Truex getting out in front.

Lap 87, the top five are Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, and Ty Gibbs.

NASCAR reviewed the restart and has charged AJ Allmendinger with a restart violation.   He will have to serve a passthrough penalty.

Lap 91, Martin Truex Jr has a narrow lead on Denny Hamlin; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.

Lap 92, Denny Hamlin passes Martin Truex Jr for the lead.

Lap 93, Martin Truex Jr is beginning to fall through the field.

Lap 94, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and Martin Truex Jr.

Christopher Bell passes Martin Truex Jr for fifith.

Lap 97, Denny Hamlin has a near half second lead on Brad Keselowski; Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Lap 101, Kyle Larson moves up on the outside to challenge Brad Keselowski for second.  Keselowski moves up to challenge Denny Hamlin for the lead.

Lap 109, Denny Hamlin holds on to the lead with Brad Keselowski in second; Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Carson Hocevar brings out the caution flag on lap 112 after getting into the wall with a blown tire.

With 52 laps remaining in stage two, the drivers are withing their fuel window to make it to the end of the stage.  Drivers come down pit road for service with Brad Keselowski winning the race off of pit road.

Brad Keselowski brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside on lap 118.  Keselowski edges out for the lead on the inside but Kyle Larson comes up on the outside the battle for the lead.  Keselowski holds on to the lead.

The top five are Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin.

Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick make contact but the track stays green.

Lap 123, Brad Keselowski has a third of a second lead on Kyle Larson; Chritopher Bell and William Byron battle for this with Denny Hamlin in fifth.

Carson Hocevar is the first driver out of the race.

William Byron passes Christopher Bell for third.

Lap 128, Brad Keselowski ahs a third of a second lead on Kyle Larson; William Byron, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 134, Brad Keselowski has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Kyle Larson; William Byron, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 141, Brad Keselowski has pulled out to a lead of over two and a half seconds on Kyle Larson.  Larson  has hit the wall hard but the track stays green and Larson saves the car.

Lap 143, the top five are Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson.

Alex Bowman gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag on lap 145.  He reported a few laps earlier that the car didn’t feel right.  Bowman becomes the second driver out of the race.

Drivers come down pit road for service several drivers taking only tow tires including Brad Keselowski who wins the race off of pit road.

There is a fire in Daniel Suarez’ pit box.

Brad Keselowski brings the field down for the green flag restart with William Byron alongside on the outside on lap 150.  Byron and Keselowski go side by side as drivers get three wide in the field.

Lap 151, Brad Keselowski takes the lead with William Byron in second; Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Lap 154, Brad Keselowski has just a tenth of a second lead on Kyle Larson; William Byron, Ross Chastain, and Christopehr Bell round out the top five.

Lap 155, Kye Larson battles with Brad Keselowski for the lead with Larson getting out in front.

Ross Chastain takes second; over a half second behind Kyle Larson.

With eight laps remaining in stage two Kyle Larson leads the race with Ross Chastain in second; Brad Keselowski, William Byron, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Four laps to go in stage two, Kyle Larson has a near one second lead on Ross Chastain; Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, and William Byron round out the top five.

Christopher Bell passes Brad Keselowski for third.

Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski battle for fourth.

Kyle Larson wins stage two for the stage sweep.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Kyle Larson
Ross Chastain
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Brad Keselowski
William Byron
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Tyler Reddick
Bubba Wallace

Playoff drivers Chris Buescher and Martin Truex Jr did not earn any stage points.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Christopher Bell just edging out Ross Chastain to win the race off of pit road.  Kyle Larson reports that the car is still too loose and Tyler Reddick reports continued wheel chatter.

Christopher Bell brings the field down for the gren flag start of stage three on lap 172 with Bell jumping out in front for the lead; Ross Chasta and Brad Keselowski battle for second.

Lap 173, the top five are Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and William Byron.

Lap 179, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Ross Chastain; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and William Byron round out the top five.

There are 85 laps remaining in the race with Chrisopher Bell leading the race over Ross Chastain by over half a second; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and William Byron round out the top five.

Lap 186, Ross Chastain has closed the gap on leader Christopher Bell to under half a second.

Lap 192, Ross Chastain comes up to challenge Christopher Bell for the lead but when Chastain went high, he lost control of the car and is now in a battle the Brad Keselowski for second.

Lap 195, the top five are Chrsitopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin.

With the car gathered back up, Ross Chastain takes aim at Christopher Bell once again.

Lap 202, Ross Chastain gets loose again and falls to sixth place.

Lap 202, Christopher Bell leads the race with Brad Keselowski in second; Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

On the move again, Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin battle for position.

Lap 208, Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Brad Keselowski; Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Chase Briscoe brings out the caution flag on lap 209 when he spins out with flat tires.  Briscoe makes contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr who gets into the wall.  Briscoe makes it back to pit road on his own power.

The drivers are now within their pit window to make it to the end of the race on fuel.

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

Austin Dillon was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with 52 laps remaining in the race.  Larson beats out Brad Keselowski for the lead as drivers get three wide through the field.

Ty Gibbs gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag with a blown tire.  The wheel comes off of the car and the pieces are rolling all over the track.  The right front lug nut was not properly secured.

Once repairs are made to Ty Gibbs’ car, he will be held for two laps as a part of the penalty for the tire coming off of the car.  Suspensions will also be coming next week.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with 45 laps remaining in the race with Brad Keselowski alongside.  Larson gets out in front for the lead.  Brad Keselowski and Christopher Bell battle for second.  Drivers are three and four wide across the track.

The top five are Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Ross Chastain.

NASCAR has posted the nine car of Chase Elliot for a restart violation.  Elliott will have to serve a passthrough penalty.

With 39 laps remaining in the race, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Brad Keselowski; Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

With 34 laps to go, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a near two second lead on Brad Keselowski; Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Just 27 laps remain in the race; Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly two seconds on Brad Keselowski.  Ty Gibbs limps his way back to pit road with a possible tire issue.

With 25 laps to go, the top five are Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, William Bron, and Kyle Busch.

Twenty to go, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second and a half on Christopher Bell; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and William Byron round out the top five.

With 18 laps to go, Ross Chastain passes William Byron for fifth.

With 14 to go, Kyle Larson has encountered slower traffic.

Thirteen laps to go, Christopher Bell has closed the gap on leader Kyle Larson to just over a second; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

The winner of the Las Vegas race has gone on to win the championship at Phoenix in three of the last six seasons.

Just nine laps to go, Kyle Larson has a 1.1 second lead on Christopher Bell; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Six laps to go; Christopher Bell has closed the gap on leader Kyle Larson to just over half a second.

Five to go, Kyle Larson is just a half  a second in front of Christopher Bell.

Two laps to go, Kyle Larson’s lead is now under half a second

Kyle Larson takes the white flag with a lead of just a third of a second.

Kyle Larson crosses the finish line by half a car length over Christopher Bell.  Kyle Larson becomes the first driver in the championship four.  This is Larson’s fourth win of the season.

The unofficial results of the Sout Point 400:
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Ross Chastain
Ryan Blaney
William Byron
Tyler Reddick
Martin Truex Jr
Denny Hamlin
Chris Buescher
Joey Logano
Bubba Wallace
Aric Almirola
Daniel Suarez
Kevin Harvick
Michael McDowell
Austin Dillon
Corey LaJoie
Harrison Burton
AJ Allmendinger
Justin Haley
Austin Cindric
Ty Dillon
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ryan Preece
Todd Gilliland
Erik Jones
JJ Yeley
Brennan Poole
BJ McLeod
Chase Elliott
Chase Briscoe
Ty Gibbs
Alex Bowman
Carson Hocevar