KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – OCTOBER 20: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – As Denny Hamlin was finishing off a dominating day in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, Chase Elliott stole perhaps an even bigger prize—a spot in the Round of 8 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – OCTOBER 19: Daniel Hemric, driver of the #8 Caterpillar Chevrolet, poses with a pole award pedal car after qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 19, 2019, in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Daniel Hemric may be out of the Playoffs and out of his ride at Richard Childress Racing next year, but that didn’t stop the driver of the No. 8 RCR Chevrolet from winning the pole position for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – OCTOBER 18: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waits in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 18, 2019, in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Talladega wasn’t good to Chase Elliott.
As a matter of fact, it was so unkind that it left the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ reigning most popular driver in a probable must-win situation in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – OCTOBER 18: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 DEKALB Ford, speaks with the media following practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 18, 2019, in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
The good news? Clint Bowyer just signed a one-year extension to drive the No. 14 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – OCTOBER 18: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, looks on during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 18, 2019, in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Playoff driver Brad Keselowski isn’t a consummate dirt-tracker, but he believes that sort of mentality may be necessary to win Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).