Chase Elliott on renewed excitement heading into the NASCAR playoffs
NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott said the regular season can get long and drawn out, making the playoffs something to look forward to.
- Austin Cindric was eliminated from the NASCAR playoffs after a wreck at the Charlotte Roval.
- Carson Hocevar’s car hit Cindric’s from behind, causing a broken rear toe link on Cindric’s vehicle.
- Cindric needed a victory in the race to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
Austin Cindric’s hopes of advancing in the NASCAR playoffs were lost when Carson Hocevar crashed into him in the NASCAR Charlotte Roval race on Oct. 5.
Hocevar hit Cindric’s No. 2 Team Penske Ford Mustang from the rear early in stage 2 of the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Hocevar and Cindric spun out and Cindric’s rear toe link was broken. Cindric’s car was taken to the garage after he drove it back to pit road.
Cindric came into the race ranked 12th in the playoff point standings. He was 48 points below the cutline to advance to the next round and needed to win the race to advance in the playoffs. Cindric’s only win in 2025 came at Talladega in April.
Cindric’s best finish in the playoffs was 12th in the first race at Darlington. He was coming off a 30th-place finish at Kansas where he fell back by 29 points in the standings.
On the first lap of the Roval, Hocevar, who is not in the playoffs, took out Kyle Busch by hitting him from the inside rear as well.
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