Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing brought drama and controversy to an otherwise uneventful Richmond race by spinning Joey Logano and sending Denny Hamlin into the wall at the end to win in overtime and clinch a playoff berth.
Last week's finish was the talk of the racing world all week and now the top circuit heads to Michigan.
Two races remain in NASCAR’s regular season after Michigan, with Daytona and Darlington next. Toyota claimed four of the top six spots at Richmond with Dillon and Ross Chastain (fifth) taking the other spots in Chevys.
NASCAR announced this week Dillon would retain the victory at Richmond however, his spot in the playoffs was revoked after spinning Logano and turning Hamlin in the final turn for the win.
NASCAR's playoff format states a win guarantees a driver a spot in its 16-driver playoff.
Ford has won the past 10 starts at Michigan, including season sweeps from 2018-20 when the track held two races annually. Rochester Hills, Michigan, native Keselowski seeks his first career Cup win at his home state track after eight top-fives and 14 top-10s in 26 starts. He won in 2009-10 in the Xfinity Series in a Chevy and Dodge, respectively.
Kyle Larson finished seventh at Richmond and leads Tyler Reddick by just five points in the standings with Chase Elliott six back in third. Hamlin - with three victories - finished second at Richmond and stands 21 points back in fourth with Logano 15th after finishing 19th.
Chris Buescher won the second of three consecutive starts before the playoffs, leading the final 12 laps of 52 overall after starting fourth for the victory. Martin Truex Jr. led 47 laps and finished second with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Hamlin third, followed by Keselowski and Larson.
Practice and qualifying is at 11:30 am Saturday morning. Race time is 1:30 pm Sunday afternoon.
The XFinity Series returns this weekend racing at Michigan.
Riley Herbst made a daring last-lap pass of Aric Almirola to earn his first victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to give Stewart-Haas Racing its second consecutive victory on July 20.
Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas have won the last two Michigan races. Reigning series champion Cole Custer holds the points lead by 55 over Justin Allgaier.
There are six races left in the Xfinity regular season. After Michigan, comes Daytona, Darlington, Atlanta, Watkins Glen and Bristol. The 12-driver playoff starts at Kansas on Sept. 28.
John Hunter Nemechek led twice for 65 laps in a Toyota after starting 10th to earn his fifth of seven victories last season. His laps-led total included the final 23 of a dominant race he won by 1.495 seconds over Josh Berry in a Chevy.
XFinity practice and qualifying is at 2:30 pm this afternoon. Race time is 2:30 pm on Saturday.
The Craftsman truck series races next weekend at the Milwaukee Mile for the start of its ten-driver playoff.
Ty Majeski earned his second consecutive victory in the regular-season finale at Richmond last weekend and aims to maintain that momentum when the series resumes with the start of the seven-race playoffs at Milwaukee on Sunday.
Majeski seized the lead on the final restart with eight laps left and held off series points leader Christian Eckes. Majeski and defending series champion Ben Rhodes are the only Ford drivers in the 10-driver playoff. Eckes claimed the regular-season championship, though Corey Heim enters with a three-point lead by virtue of his five victories this season.
