2019 Nascar - Playoff Race #9 - Phoenix - And Then There Were 4

[GA_Boater]

Final heat settles down a little. Joey leads with Hamlin and Elliott behind him.

Forget Elliott - Hard into the wall with a tire down. He is done and out of the playoffs. The 3rd playoff round was not kind to him.

 

[GA_Boater]

New leader - Hamlin around Joey.

 

[GA_Boater]

110 laps to go. Only 2 real cautions through the 1st 200 laps - I expected more.

Hamlin leads TWT and Blaney.

 

[GA_Boater]

78 laps to go and green flag stops are starting. Joey is trying to stay on the lead lap in 11th - Only 10 on the lead lap. Hamlin is the leader with more pit stops coming.

 

[GA_Boater]

Pit stops cycle through and Hamlin has 8 seconds on TWT. 8 cars on the lead lap. With 55 laps to go, will Hamlin lap the field?

 

[GA_Boater]

9 laps to go and a yellow for Ragan. Hamlin does not want the field closed up on the restart. Hamlin must win to stay in the playoffs. Gonna be shootout with TWT, Blaney and Truex.

They pitted! Why? Hamlin took 2 tires.

 

[GA_Boater]

3 to go at the green. Hamlin holds on with TWT back 3/10th.

 

[GA_Boater]

Hamlin races into the final 4 at Homestead and will battle Truex, Harvick and TWT for the big trophy.

Joey, Blaney, Larson and Elliott are out.

iFL is jumping around with bonus points. Final results on Tuesday.

 

[hvymtl939]

Just about the most boring race of the year IMO. This package does this track no favors. I'm not super pumped this is where the championship race will be next year.

 

[GA_Boater]

I joked about the winner lapping the field. At one time between cautions and pit stops, a grand total of 8 cars were on the lead lap during a long green flag run.

I wish Nascar would forget using traction compound and if they continue, treat every square inch, not the upper or lower grove. Slippery traction should be a test of driver skills, not something to be negated by putting stickum on the track.

The season should start at Daytona and end at Daytona. I don't like having the season ending race at botulISM.

 

[64osby]

Ending with a plate race might be fun. The top 4 take themselves out in a Big One an who ever can nurse it around wins.

Half the races are determined in the pits and on restarts. Hardly any passing on the leader sitting in clean air.

 

[GA_Boater]

Finally - iFL results!

Our official winner at Phoenix is Vega Kid for his second win of the year. Congrats, VK. :first:

Not even gonna talk about the overall leader - It's turning into a rout!

Everybody races this weekend, but only one Cup, one X-Man and one Trucker will be happy. It all starts on Friday.