TEXAS RACE REVIEW

What was That?

Date: 9-25-2022.
Name of the race: Auto Trader EchoPark Automotive 500. 
Track: Texas Motor Speedway.
Laps: 334. 
Pole winner: Brad Keselowski.
Outside pole: Joey Logano. 
Stage 1 winner: Kyle Larson. 
Stage 2 winner: Ryan Blaney.
Stage 3 winner (won the race): Tyler Reddick. 
Top 5: Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Justin Haley, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Briscoe. 
FYI: Everyone knows the saying "Everything is Bigger in Texas", and boy was there action in the Lone Star state. This particular race had a total of thirty-six lead changes and sixteen different cautions that ranged from weather issues and tire problems. All went well in stage one of the race with no one having issues, but once stage two started all that changed. Tire issues plagued tons of drivers during stages two and three, like playoff driver Chase Elliott whose car caught on fire forcing him to be out of the race, and non-playoff drivers Martin Truex Jr and Kevin Harvick all while leading the race which raised some concerns for the playoff drivers of not knowing if it will happen to others and if there will be enough tires. The worst hit of the race would come halfway through the race when Cody Ware took a nasty hit and would have to be transported to the infield care center, where he would be allowed to go home but would have to follow up with an orthopedic specialist with getting X-rays from discomfort in his ankle. No one knows for sure if he will be able to run next weekend at Talladega and with a hit like that drivers are really speaking up about the safety and tire concerns with this next-gen car since both seem to be happening more frequently with this car going at a high rate of speed. A rain shower and lightning strikes that would last fifty-six minutes would also intensify the race since by the time the race got resumed nightfall was approaching, but luckily for this playoff driver, Ryan Blaney would earn a stage win. Two big headlines from this race would be the rivalry between playoff drivers Denny Hamlin and William Byron, the two banged into one another intentionally because they did not like how one another raced. William Byron admitted he hit Denny on purpose and would be penalized by NASCAR on Wednesday, which would be a fine of $50,000 and be docked twenty-five driver and owner points. The other headline was the battle between Erik Jones, Ty Dillon, and Ty Gibbs since the two did not like that Ty ran them over on pit road, which would also result in a penalty for the nineteen-year-old of a $75,000 fine and being docked twenty-five points. In the midst of all of this action, Tyler Reddick stole the victory by holding off playoff driver Joey Logano in the last twenty-four green flag laps of the race and would earn his third victory of the season and his first on an oval after winning two road courses previous in the season. The streak now continues for non-playoff drivers stealing away victories from the playoff drivers, we shall see if this continues or if a playoff driver can finally emerge and win a race in the playoffs. Now the series heads to the most unpredictable track on the schedule also known as Talladega Superspeedway where anybody can win, and anything can happen. Time to go plate racing for the final time this season ladies and gentlemen! 
Next Race: Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday afternoon (10-2-2022) for the second race in the second round of the playoffs.