For drivers in a must-win situation, Homestead-Miami Speedway is the place to make use of opportunity. One driver finds their spot in the Championship 4, while others scramble as the Round of 8 winds down.
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00:00Race car is off the track, it is a beautiful fall afternoon here in southern Florida.
00:15It's the straight talk 400 and it's time to bring the action here in Miami.
00:21Left Larson behind and Bell took full advantage of that.
00:30Now Larson responds.
00:31Look at that blue and white car up high.
00:37Reddick, Bell, Larson, Hamlin and then Haley goes around.
00:45Lap one crash.
00:46Can everybody miss him?
00:51Larson, Haley, got his best qualifying of the year in the top ten for his new team,
00:57spire motorsports.
00:58He's gone around on the opening lap.
01:00I'm going to run with it.
01:02Watch how loose he is right here.
01:03That is, from inside the race car, you feel like you are almost wrecked.
01:08He did a great job of saving it.
01:10Denny Hamlin, this is what he saw.
01:11He's like, oh, no.
01:12And you said it right, Steve.
01:13He just...
01:14Front guys all stay on the racetrack, Busch, Logano, Cedric Gilland, older tires, a handful
01:43of laps.
01:45This could be very exciting for Elliott.
01:47First car on fresh.
01:48Good news.
01:49Let's see as we go back to green, let's see the difference it makes.
01:52Watch that blue car.
01:54And keep your eye on Bubba Wallace as well.
01:55The bright red McDonald's machine in the middle.
01:58Bubba Wallace.
01:59Chase Elliott says, if there's room, I'm going to the top.
02:04Take me with you.
02:09Look at that for a restart from Bubba Wallace.
02:11Who almost lost the car earlier.
02:13How quick can the 9 be?
02:17And here is Blaney.
02:18Ryan Blaney runs fourth.
02:20Again, he started 20th.
02:27The best Ford after qualifying was Josh Berry in 12th.
02:31Blaney was back.
02:32Blaney was the lead of the three Penske Fords in 20th.
02:35The Toyota Camry, the beast Toyota Camry.
02:38It was quick in qualifying, and it's been very swift here in stage one.
02:42Tyler Reddick wins the first stage.
02:47His teammate comes home second.
02:50Chase Elliott has had a very productive opening stage.
02:53He'll grab third place points.
02:55And Ryan Blaney from 20th to fourth.
02:58Carson Hosovar.
03:00Check out what happened here at RFK Racing.
03:03And Chris Buescher.
03:04He got nudged by Ricky Stenhouse.
03:07The fast and old Ford went around.
03:09Of Kyle Larson.
03:10Stage one done.
03:11This is stage two.
03:12Let's fire him on.
03:13Elliott pops out, looks on the inside.
03:14That Napa Chevy drives straight to the lead.
03:15Wallace on the high side, though.
03:16And Toyota has had plenty of speed today.
03:17But Chase Elliott's trying to race his way into the championship four.
03:18Remember, Blaney's concern before this race was, could he take off with speed on restarts?
03:19Reddick drops down low.
03:20Let's take a look at exactly what happened with the 12 of Blaney.
03:40I think we're going to see just a little bit of contact.
03:46Pretty standard contact.
03:47It looked like mostly the right rear.
03:49Stayed in there a little longer than you want to see it, though.
04:11But I agree with Cliff.
04:12I think that Larson is showing better pace.
04:15Still not top five or top six.
04:17But much like Reddick, who talked about how his car is not good in traffic, Larson as
04:21well.
04:22When you go to the back, the car just doesn't drive as well.
04:23It's going to take some adjustment.
04:26Right alongside Chase Elliott and grabs the lead of this race for the first time in a
04:30long while.
04:31It's not over yet.
04:32Look how close this is as Elliott goes right around on the fence.
04:37Now Hamlin side-by-side.
04:38Now he's just got to take this spot.
04:39Grip on the bottom of the racetrack.
04:40Overdrive the entry.
04:41Slide up in front of the 9 car.
04:43What a fight for the lead.
04:55And this is where Chase Elliott said, I'm okay.
04:57I'm comfortable.
04:58I'll fight you up here.
05:01And regained the lead of the race.
05:03But Hamlin's in a different position this time.
05:05He didn't overdrive the middle this time.
05:07He's trying to stay right on the corner panel.
05:09Now the 11 turns down.
05:11This is the slide.
05:12Now he's going to come up in front of the 9.
05:15It took multiple laps, but Hamlin completes the pass.
05:18There is nobody close to Hamlin for the win of the stage.
05:22Denny, you may be surprised that you're still in the playoffs, but now you've helped your
05:27position even more.
05:29Hamlin wins stage 2 here in Miami.
05:31And Redick getting trapped on the bottom.
05:33Cost him the position with Bell.
05:35Bell is able to beat him to the line with the momentum.
05:39For valuable points going the way of the Joe Gibbs racing number 11, Denny Hamlin.
05:44And all four of them have put themselves in position to make it happen.
05:48All right.
05:49Ready to go back to work for the third and final stage of the Straight Torque 400.
05:57Let's do it.
05:58Last restart was really racy.
06:00Very entertaining.
06:01Look at young Carson Hosovar in there in that yellow and black car as Elliott and Bell go
06:06for it at the front.
06:07Blaney down on the low side.
06:09Got a great run to the middle of the corner on the outside.
06:13Is this about to be 70?
06:14No.
06:15Bell will beat him to the line.
06:16But Elliott has led 69 laps today and is in contention for an all-important win that would
06:22lock him into the championship four.
06:24Keep right on that 12 car.
06:29That looked pretty good for Ryan Blaney.
06:33He's ahead of Bell, and he's right on the inside of race leader chase Elliott.
06:40This is what we ordered today.
06:49Remember, these two guys had contact, slight contact down the back straight earlier, Jeff.
06:55And Ryan Blaney was none too pleased.
06:56Chase Elliott chasing him down the racetrack, trying to side draft him a little bit.
07:12Steve, how fascinated are you as far as the pit cycle?
07:16Who's going to go on the shorter side?
07:17Who's going to go on the longer side?
07:19Where do you think it's going to play?
07:50This has been a representation of the quality and the caliber of playoff racing you hoped
08:03for and we hoped for.
08:05Back to racing, Ryan Blaney grabbed a spot, gained a position on pit road on that race
08:11off pit road, and he leads.
08:12But Christopher Bell, chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson.
08:16Kyle Larson from 35th is now pushing his way into the top three.
08:24Whoa.
08:27Todd Gilliland, good job to avoid the 54 of Ty Gibbs as well.
08:31Kyle Larson started on the front row.
08:34And look at this.
08:35Three wide, three playoff drivers.
08:37Hamlin, his teammate Bell, and chase Elliott.
08:40And Hamlin just blows by him.
08:41If Hamlin wins the race, that's the move.
08:43Two for one in one lap.
08:45That would be the difference.
08:46He's going to need some help from the leaders.
08:49Look how close this is.
08:5112 and a half laps to go.
08:52They touch.
08:53And Brown goes.
08:54Larson, can he catch it?
08:56He cannot.
08:58Kyle Larson spins down in turn three.
09:01He's getting back up here.
09:02Keep rolling.
09:03Keep rolling.
09:03Keep rolling.
09:04You're good.
09:04Keep rolling.
09:06I'm not sure he's going to lose a spot.
09:09He's going to bring out the yellow.
09:10He might lose a spot to the 11.
09:11We'll see where NASCAR lines him up.
09:13Lee, a shot to win the championship.
09:15Now comes down to pit crews and a final restart for the drivers.
09:18Larson said it was a little bit too tight to fire off on that run.
09:22Meanwhile, Ryan Blaney, their strength all day long has been the long run.
09:25So they're going to have to make adjustments here.
09:27Same for Christopher Bell.
09:29They've been strong on the long run.
09:30How will they do on this short run, Dave?
09:32Eddie Hamlin needs an adjustment for that, too.
09:34Marty, I need to be freer.
09:35Good stop.
09:35Four tires.
09:36He's out of there.
09:37Only one car in front of him.
09:39Be selfish.
09:40No teammates.
09:42Go for it.
09:42I mean, the crowd is on its feet.
09:44The place is packed.
09:45This is what they all came to see.
09:46Do you want to go to the championship four in Phoenix in two weeks time?
09:50You have that opportunity right here, right now.
09:56Racing for a shot to be a Cup Series champion.
09:58Blaney's on the defense.
10:00Elliott goes on the inside on the attack.
10:03Here comes Hamlin on his own driver.
10:05Big advantage for Eddie Hamlin right here.
10:08Whoa!
10:08Hamlin on the high side.
10:10Somebody's championship picture.
10:12Oh, big run in the middle of the corner by Blaney.
10:18Oh, look at this!
10:20Down the back straight.
10:22JGR versus Team Penske.
10:24Blaney versus Hamlin.
10:26And Blaney's got his nose in front.
10:31Hamlin goes to the top.
10:32He's looking for the huge run down the back stretch.
10:34But can Redding do it from the bottom?
10:37This championship is going to be a close one.
10:40The championship this year has given us some of the most incredible closing moments.
10:45You pick this one.
10:46Blaney, Redding, or Hamlin.
10:49Redding is not done with yet.
10:51Tyler Redding just drives all the way around Ryan Blaney.
10:55Can you believe what you've just seen?
10:58Redding's going to Phoenix.
11:00Tyler Redding wins the Straight Talk 400 in the most incredible way.
11:10He loves ripping the boards.
11:12He just ripped them apart.
11:14Right around the outside to Victory Lane.