Overview

• Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford was eliminated near the end of Stage 1 after a Lap 72 left-front tire failure sent him into the Turn 4 wall, according to his post-incident remarks.
• The car sustained terminal damage and was towed to the DVP area before being pushed behind the wall, with NASCAR declaring him out of the race.
• He was scored 38th for just one point after entering Las Vegas 19 points above the cutline, as all other playoff drivers collected stage points.
• Blaney reported over the radio that he had no steering as the team assessed the heavily damaged Ford.
• With Talladega and Martinsville up next, coverage indicates his path to the Championship 4 likely hinges on winning one of those races.