Top 5 Moments from Race 1 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup at Chicagoland

From close racing, to championship hopes taking major knocks, to surprise winners, the first race for this years Sprint Cup was certainly a successful race to start off NASCARs version of the playoffs.

But before we go any further, what is The Chase, for those who are unfamiliar with the sport?
In simple terms, the season is split into two segments, the ‘regular season (first 26 races) and The Chase (final 10 races)
Only 16 drivers will start off in The Chase, and these drivers gain Chase eligibility by either winning a race in the regular season, or by being the highest in points, without wins. Once the Chase starts, 4 of the lowest ranking drivers in The Chase are eliminated every 3 races, until only 4 remain, however win a race in the Chase, as a Chase driver, and you’ll get through automatically, to the next 3 races. The first of those 4 cars to cross the line first in the final race of the season, are crowned the Champion.
So now that’s out the way, here’s this weekends top 5 -

5. Chase contender Hamlin takes an early spin

Denny Hamlin had a huge moment on only lap 2 of Sundays race, after an aggressive block from Brian Scott (#33) took Hamlin down to the apron, before AJ Allmendinger (#47) turned down into Hamlin, not expecting him to be there. Luckily only the two cars were involved, but the 11 lost a lap.

4. Close racing all day long

After the previous week at Richmond, two cars being on the same track could have been considered ‘close racing’ (seriously, Richmond was a total snoozefest) however last Sundays race, didn’t disappoint at all, with battles for position taking place all over the track, and the leaders often seperated by a few tenths of a second. Early on, Truex Jr (#78), Kyle Busch (#18) and Kevin Harvick (#4) were 3 wide, and changing lanes to fight for the top spot!

3. Defending Champ, Harvick, takes a big hit

On a restart, about midway through the race, Harvick was leading his lane, when Jimmie Johnson (#48) managed to get under him, thanks to a helpful shove from Joey Logano (#22). The 48 then came up the track, and tagged Harvick as they went into turn 1, giving the #4 car a huge tyre rub. Sadly it didn’t hold together, and a couple of laps later, the defending champ found himself backwards in the turn 3 wall, taking a hefty hit to his championship hopes and to the rear of his car.

2. Happy Harvick, is a little upset

After the race, Harvick was obviously a little upset, that his rival, Jimmie Johnson had door slammed him, costing him valuable points. Johnson, who went to apologise to Harvick at his motorhome, was confronted with a rather irate Harvick, who shoved and yelled at the 6 time Champion. Thankfully nothing more took place, but things are already heating up and it’s only race 1!

1. Hamlin proceeds to the next round

A late race caution brought out thanks to Matt DiBenedetto (#83) slapping the wall meant that it was decision time for the crew chiefs. 4 tyres, 2 tyres, or no tyres were the only choices available.
Kurt Busch (#41), Jeff Gordon (#24), Denny Hamlin (#11) and a couple of others stayed out on old rubber, whilst most of the field came in and took either 2 or 4 Goodyears. On the restart, Busch struggled to get upto speed and fell to third, Gordon fell all the way back to 14th, however Hamlin stormed into the lead, followed by his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Carl Edwards (#19), who had taken 4 fresh circles of rubber. Despite the fresher tyres, Hamlin still pulled away, and punched his ticket into round 2 of the Chase.

Next week the series visits New Hampshire motorspeedway, for round 28, and Race 2 of the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup.