After more than 50 minutes of waiting, NASCAR made the decision to postpone the remaining portion of the race due to rain until Monday at 12 p.m. ET.
Rain caused the start of the race on Sunday to be delayed by more than 90 minutes. But it eventually got going. On lap 75 of 200 when it returned to the area surrounding the 2-mile circuit. The race was put under caution.
Tyler Reddick was in the lead when the race was declared over. Followed by Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, and Tyler Bowman. Austin Cindric, Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace, and Denny Hamlin round out the top 10 running order.
Chase Elliott, however, had a terrible start to the race since he crashed at Turn 2. Just before the first stage ended due to a deflated rear tyre. He entered the garage early and was forced to withdraw due to the damage.
Elliott was running sixth but will finish in 36th, increasing the difficulty of his job to make the playoffs. After missing multiple races earlier this season due to injuries and a one-race penalty.
Coming into the weekend, the 2020 NASCAR Cup champion was still mathematically in the running to qualify for the 16-driver playoffs based on points. But he would need several strong performances in the remaining four regular season races to do so.
Elliott still has favorable tracks where he could win his first race of the year and lock himself into the playoffs with the road courses at Watkins Glen and Indianapolis. As well as the superspeedway of Daytona, remaining before the playoff format goes into effect. However, practically speaking, he must win one of those to make the title fight.
Elliott said
“I hate that happened. It’s really early in the day to have a tire blow like that, it’s really weird. Bummer, but not surprised.”
Although Kyle Busch and William Byron were both eliminated early in Michigan, both have already secured playoff positions.
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