Three drivers fail to clinch Chase berth at Pocono; Atlanta could be most crucial race before Richmond - MotorSportsTalk

If at first you don’t succeed, try again next week.

That’s the case for three drivers who failed to officially clinch a berth in the upcoming Chase for the Sprint Cup in this past Sunday’s GoBowling.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.

According to NASCAR statisticians, Kevin Harvick was the only driver of four that mathematically could clinch a berth in the Chase, having done so with his runner-up finish Sunday at Pocono.

Those failing to clinch a berth were Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Aric Almirola. That trio will have another chance to officially lock themselves into the Chase in this Sunday’s road course race at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York.

In addition to Harvick, those drivers already locked in to the Chase are Pocono winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano.

In addition to those drivers who have won at least one race this season but as yet have not officially clinched a spot, there are still five other spots that remain open for the Chase.

Right now, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, rookie Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman and Clint Bowyer would make the Chase if the standings remain the same after the Chase cut-off qualifying race at Richmond a month from now.

Five races remain to qualify for the Chase.

Nine drivers who earned at least one win last season have yet to win thus far this season, and several of those find themselves in jeopardy of missing the Chase, among them Tony Stewart, who is 19th in the standings after this past Sunday’s race at Pocono, and Kasey Kahne, who is 14th.

Atlanta Motor Speedway, which hosts the next-to-last Chase qualifying race prior to Richmond, is looking forward to some significant juggling in the standings both heading into and after its annual Labor Day weekend race.

“For teams that have not secured a Chase spot yet, Labor Day Weekend is going to be huge,” AMS president and general manager Ed Clark said in a media release. “For teams and drivers who have not had the season they may have hoped for, they’re in must-win mode.

“If you’re trying to get into the Chase, there’s no time to settle for a good points day. That should lead to some of the most exciting racing of the entire season (at Atlanta).”

If they remain winless heading into the Labor Day weekend race, AMS could potentially be the best place for drivers like Stewart and Kahne to finally cement a Chase berth.

Stewart is a three-time winner at Atlanta, his last triumph being in 2010, while Kahne is a two-time winner there, including making the 2009 Chase with a win at AMS.

Other drivers who remain eligible to make the Chase, but will have to win a race to make it are Sprint All-Star race winner Jamie McMurray, Marcos Ambrose, A.J. Allmendinger, Martin Truex, Jr. and Brian Vickers.

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It took four attempts for Kyle Larson to win his first High Limit Sprint Car Series race in the series he co-owns with brother-in-law Brad Sweet, but once he found victory lane, he has been undefeated with his win at Eagle (Nebraska) Raceway. For the second week, Abreu led early only to fall prey to Larson.

The win was Larson’s third straight victory and the fifth consecutive top-five, giving him a perfect sweep of the season after finishing 10th in last year’s inaugural race at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Indiana.

Larson started third behind Abreu and Brent Marks but was embroiled in a fierce battle with Anthony Macri for third during the first dozen laps. Larson slipped by Macri in traffic until a red flag waved for a flip by Lachlan McHugh.

Meanwhile at the front of the pack, Marks retook the lead from Abreu on Lap 18. Larson followed one lap later and then caution waved again. Tyler Courtney lost power and fell to 24th after starting eighth.

Marks scooted away on the restart but tragedy struck in Lap 26. Leading the race, Marks hit a pothole in Turn 1, bicycled and then flipped, handing the lead to Larson.

Abreu caught Larson again during the final laps and in a reprise of their battle at Tri-City Speedway, the two threw sliders at one another for several laps until Larson built some separation and ran away to the checkers.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧. 𝗪𝗔𝗦. 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗖.@EagleRaceway went above and beyond in their return to the main stage with the High Limit Sprint Car Series tonight!

pic.twitter.com/H3XKQEOpg6

— High Limit Racing (@HighLimitRacing) June 7, 2023

“I didn’t feel like my pace in [Turns] 1 & 2 slowed down a ton,” Larson said from victory lane. “I missed it once there and then I saw his nose in 3 & 4. I didn’t know if he nailed the bottom that well behind me and I think he might have slid me in the next corner, so he was definitely on the top.

“I was nervous to move up there because my car was really pogoing up in the entry of 1. I got up just in time, made a few mistakes and he threw a couple more sliders at me but he was just a little too far back and I was able to squirt around him. Then I really had to commit to hitting my marks – back my effort down a bit to avoid mistakes.”

After leading early, Abreu fell back as far as sixth, but faith in his car kept hope alive.

“I just needed to do a few things a few laps before I did and fix some angles, then my car got a whole lot better,” Abreu said. “I’m thankful for this team; they do an amazing job. They don’t give up on me. I know my car is going to be there right at the end of these races, so it’s just the discipline of being patient.”

For Abreu, it was his third near-miss this season. He was leading at Lakeside in the 2023 opener until a tire went flat in the closing laps and he lost the lead to Larson late in the Tri-City Speedway race. Abreu has finished sixth or better in his last three High Limit races with each result being progressively better until his pair of runner-up results.

Third-place finisher Scelzi was the hard charger, advancing from 17th.

“I had a very specific plan; don’t go near [the hole in Turn 1],” Scelzi said. “It worked out. No one wanted to start on the top. I think I gained a couple of rows there on the choose cone and ran the middle, which seemed to be better than right around the bottom.”

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid in fourth and Macri rounded out the top five.

World of Outlaws star and former NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne was one of 41 entrants, but he was not among the 26 starters. He failed to advance to the Main after finishing eighth in the B Main and seventh in his heat.

Feature Results

A Feature (40 Laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson[4]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[17]; 4. 71-Michael Kofoid[5]; 5. 39M-Anthony Macri[3]; 6. 9-Chase Randall[9]; 7. 26-Zeb Wise[14]; 8. 1X-Jake Bubak[15]; 9. 8-Aaron Reutzel[10]; 10. 14D-Corey Day[18]; 11. 11-Cory Eliason[12]; 12. 5T-Ryan Timms[11]; 13. 88-Austin McCarl[13]; 14. 21H-Brady Bacon[22]; 15. 48-Danny Dietrich[16]; 16. 7S-Robbie Price[19]; 17. 21-Brian Brown[23]; 18. 22-Riley Goodno[26]; 19. 52-Blake Hahn[25]; 20. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[21]; 21. 3J-Dusty Zomer[6]; 22. 14-Cole Macedo[7]; 23. 19-Brent Marks[2]; 24. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[8]; 25. 25-Lachlan McHugh[20]; 26. 53-Jack Dover[24]

2023 High Limit Sprint Car Series

Race 1: Giovanni Scelzi wins at Lakeside Speedway
Race2: Anthony Macri wins at 34 Raceway
Race 3: Kyle Larson wins at Wayne County Speedway
Race 4: Kyle Larson wins at Tri-City Speedway

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