Las Vegas, NV — NASCAR is in Las Vegas for the first race of the Round of 8. Before the NASCAR Xfinity race, 23XI Racing driver Kurt Busch announced he would be retiring from full-time racing. 23XI Racing signed Tyler Reddick to race in 2024, but with this retirement, 23XI Racing could buy out Reddick’s RCR contract and he will be allowed to race a year sooner. Kurt Busch continues to recover from the concussion he received in Pocono. With that being said, Tyler Reddick earned the pole in the race with the no. 2 of Austin Cindric to his outside. They would battle for 4 laps until Tyler Reddick was able to clear Austin Cindric. On lap 6, the no. 12 of Ryan Blaney (P) would radio to his crew that he has a vibration in the right front. He continues to run in 4th place. On lap 34, Austin Cindric would pass Tyler Reddick for the lead. Green flag pit stops would start on lap 36. The no. 6 of Brad Keselowski would miss his pit stall and be forced to back up to his box. The no. 99 of Daniel Suárez, who was first to pit under green, would take the lead on lap 42. However, it would not last long when Bubba Wallace would take the lead on lap 57. Our first caution would come out on lap 77 when the 18 of Kyle Busch would spin off turn 4. This caution would end the stage and Bubba Wallace would earn the stage win. Bubba Wallace would keep the lead during pit stops and would restart in the lead for stage 2. The 45 would lose the lead to the 99 on lap 86. Our 2nd caution would come out on lap 95 when the no. 5 of Kyle Larson pushes up the track and the no. 45 gets into the wall. The 45 would chase the 5 down the track and wreck Larson into the outside wall, collecting the 20 of Christopher Bell (P). The no. 45 of Bubba Wallace would also wreck in the retaliation attempt. Bubba Wallace would exit his car after stopping and walk over to the no. 5 of Kyle Larson and shoving him. It is unsure if NASCAR will issue penalties. On lap 100, Bell’s Damage Vehicle Clock would expire and end his race. On lap 103, the no. 99 would lead the field to green and the no. 47 of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. would spin entering turn 1, bringing out the 3rd caution of the day. The no. 99 would restart in the lead again but would lose the lead in turn 4 to the no. 1 of Ross Chastain. Ross Chastain would lose the lead to the no. 12 of Ryan Blaney (P) on lap 129. On lap 165, the no. 12 of Ryan Blaney would win stage 2. Restart on lap 172 and the no. 22 of Joey Logano (P) leads. On lap 194, the 15 spins off turn 4 with a flat tire. The no. 41 of Cole Custer is hit with a speeding penalty during this caution and will restart in the back. Lap 200 restart and the no. 1 of Ross Chastain leads. On lap 228, the 12 of Ryan Blaney spins in turn 4 with a flat tire. The no. 31 leads on the restart but loses it quickly. On lap 240, the no. 99 spins but does not hit anything. The no. 14 leads on the restart but gets passed by Ross Chastain (P). Ross Chastain gets chased down by the no. 22 of Joey Logano (P) with 5 laps to go. Joey would take the lead with 4 to go and hold onto it until the checkered flag. With Logano’s (P) win, he punches his ticket into Phoenix and gives himself a chance to race for a championship. On Monday, Bubba Wallace was given a one-race suspension by NASCAR. Wallace will miss the race at Homestead-Miami. Kyle Busch Motorsports driver John Hunter Nemechek will start the race in the 23XI Racing no. 45 car. John is currently 6th in the NASCAR Truck series playoffs.

Current Point Standings: 

1. Joey Logano – ADV.

2. Ross Chastain – 4063

3. Chase Elliott – 4062

4. Denny Hamlin – 4051

—————–Champ. 4 Cutoff—————–

5. William Byron – 4045

6. Chase Briscoe – 4042

7. Ryan Blaney – 4040

8. Christopher Bell – 4028

The next race in the Round of 8 will take place at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race will begin at 2:30 p.m. EST on NBC. Homestead-Miami is a 1.5-mile oval and was the site of the championship race from 2002 to 2019 when Phoenix Raceway, then known as ISM Raceway, took over.