{"id":125498,"date":"2025-09-07T01:20:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T01:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/125498\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T01:20:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T01:20:46","slug":"gateway-nascar-playoff-race-will-be-about-execution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/125498\/","title":{"rendered":"Gateway NASCAR Playoff race will be about execution"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Enjoy Illinois 300 is going to be an execution race; or as these types are more commonly referred to under derision — a track position race.<\/p>\n

And Denny Hamlin<\/a> will take the green flag with the best track position possible after scoring his third pole of the season<\/a> and on back-to-back weeks to start the Cup Series Playoffs.<\/p>\n

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Read Also:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Denny Hamlin beats Kyle Larson to Gateway NASCAR Cup pole position <\/a><\/p>\n

This is a track position race because World Wide Technology Raceway (n\u00e9e Gateway) is the type of race track the current configuration of the NextGen car hates the most. It\u2019s a relatively flat track, 11 degrees of banking in Turns 1 and 2, and two less in 3 and 4.<\/p>\n

In other words, any issues on pit road or a mistake on the track, will be near impossible to come back from purely from a race craft standpoint.\u00a0To wit, William Byron<\/a> chuckled and simply said \u2018no,\u2019 when asked on Saturday before qualifying if this was a race where he mistake could be overcome.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis is a place where you need to execute really well,\u201d Byron said. \u201cYou need to execute all day and you need to be towards the front and if you have some strategy things that happen where you fall out of the top-10, you have to find some way to advance forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

NASCAR and Goodyear have delivered a new tire combination for this track after three years, the same combination that was new for Iowa earlier in the summer too, but the general consensus throughout the field is that on-track passes will be hard to come by.<\/p>\n

This includes Austin Dillon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think that qualifying today, again, if we can execute like we did at Darlington \u2014 this is a place that is tougher to pass than Darlington,\u201d Dillon said. \u201cMaintaining track position is a bit easier because of that but you also have to do a really good job in strategy and different things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which by the way, as best articulated by Austin Cindric<\/a>, sometimes maintaining track position isn\u2019t even something that a team and driver can even control.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe caution that I don’t know is going to happen in the middle of stage two or stage three,\u201d Cindric said. \u201cThat’s not necessarily in my control but the strategy for this race is going to be probably as challenging as a road course in the playoffs because of how important track position is going to be. How tight the fields going to be. You know qualifying today will be exceptionally important to give yourself options.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Playoff driver starting spots<\/p>\n

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Kyle Larson<\/a>
3. Chase Briscoe<\/a>
4. Ross Chastain<\/a>
5. Ryan Blaney<\/a>
6. William Byron
7. Tyler Reddick<\/a>
8. Christopher Bell<\/a>
9. Austin Cindric
12. Josh Berry<\/a>
13. Joey Logano<\/a>
14. Bubba Wallace<\/a>
15. Austin Dillon
18. Shane Van Gisbergen<\/a>
19. Chase Elliott<\/a>
25. Alex Bowman<\/a><\/p>\n

Of these drivers, only Southern 500 winner Chase Briscoe is unconcerned about points for the next two weeks right now because he is already locked into the Round of 8.<\/p>\n

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Current Playoff Grid<\/p>\n

Chase Briscoe Adv.
Denny Hamlin<\/a> +43
Kyle Larson +38
Tyler Reddick<\/a> +35
Bubba Wallace<\/a> +25
William Byron +25
Ryan Blaney +22
Ross Chastain<\/a> +21
Austin Cindric<\/a> +12
Christopher Bell +11
Chase Elliott +9
Shane Van Gisbergen +3
—
Joey Logano -3
Austin Dillon -8
Alex Bowman -19
Josh Berry -19<\/p>\n

Basic mathematics<\/p>\n

Of the playoff drivers, beyond locked-in Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick are the most comfortable in advance of Sunday. Everyone else is already facing long odds or are one bad day from elimination.<\/p>\n

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That includes Chase Elliott, just nine points up, who does not want points updates on Sunday.<\/p>\n

“None,” Elliott said about how much he cares to know what’s happening. “If it were the last race and you are in a position or two, you are going to be made aware of that, but otherwise, it’s pretty straightforward.<\/p>\n

“It’s simple math. You know who’s in and who you are around and you have a general awareness of everything. If you’re in front of the other playoff guys, that’s generally a good thing, and if you’re not, it’s generally a bad thing.”<\/p>\n

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Elliott said everyone in his media scrum passed basic math and that’s what this comes down to.<\/p>\n

At 25 up, Bubba Wallace says ‘we are in a good spot’ so he isn’t obsessing over points either.<\/p>\n

“It’s different looking at the points now then when we were on the bubble before we won,” Wallace said. “We’re 25 up? Yeah. I’ll take that.”<\/p>\n

Austin Dillon is eight under but thinks he should have a chance to score stage points and challenge for a top-10.<\/p>\n

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“I think the past history of Kyle (Busch) running really well here and winning,” Dillon said. “Last year, we had a very fast car and we were able to take advantage of that and finish sixth and score stage points. If we score some stage points and finish in the top-10, I feel like we\u2019ll go into Bristol just above the cutline, and then we\u2019ve got to do the same thing there.”<\/p>\n

And then, there’s just Briscoe, who wants to know what’s going on but only as a race fan.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I love knowing. Just the fan in me. I like to know what is going on and what guys are racing for. I just like knowing what is going on. So yeah, I\u2019ll ask James (Small, crew chief) all of the time. We\u2019ve not really been in that situation yet, but I think Jeff was asking me the other week, I can just ask him a random question and James is tense all of the time, he\u2019ll jump me. (laughter) I\u2019m sure at some point it is coming over the course of the next nine weeks \u2013 him telling me I need to stop worrying about everyone else, but I just love knowing. So yeah, I\u2019ll definitely be asking for sure, and I\u2019ll be checking out the big screen under caution to kind of know what is going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photos from Gateway – PracticeBrad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford\"Brad<\/p>\n

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Denny<\/p>\n

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford\"Cody<\/p>\n

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Christopher<\/p>\n

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Chris Graythen – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet\"Shane<\/p>\n

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Ty<\/p>\n

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Ty<\/p>\n

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford\"Joey<\/p>\n

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet\"Alex<\/p>\n

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Chase<\/p>\n

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford\"Ryan<\/p>\n

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Daniel<\/p>\n

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet\"Daniel<\/p>\n

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford\"Joey<\/p>\n

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet\"Chase<\/p>\n

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Denny<\/p>\n

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet\"Daniel<\/p>\n

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Christopher<\/p>\n

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Chase<\/p>\n

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Chris Graythen – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet\"Kyle<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Chris Graythen – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford\"Ryan<\/p>\n

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet\"Kyle<\/p>\n

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet\"Kyle<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota\"Bubba<\/p>\n

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota\"Tyler<\/p>\n

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota\"Bubba<\/p>\n

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet\"Ross<\/p>\n

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford\"Austin<\/p>\n

Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet\"Chase<\/p>\n

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford\"Ryan<\/p>\n

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet\"Chase<\/p>\n

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet\"William<\/p>\n

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford\"Noah<\/p>\n

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet\"Kyle<\/p>\n

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet<\/p>\n

Chris Graythen – Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota\"Denny<\/p>\n

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota<\/p>\n

Sean Gardner \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Christopher Bell, Carson Hocevar move on from Darlington pit snafu <\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Denny Hamlin doesn’t expect Tyler Reddick to opt out <\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Why is Carson Hocevar collecting old NASCAR cars? <\/a><\/p>\n

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Enjoy Illinois 300 is going to be an execution race; or as these types are more commonly…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":125499,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[21621,10226,2331,49,48,10662,4387,3932,3484,4386,634,69152,82,69153,47148,4382],"class_list":{"0":"post-125498","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nascar","8":"tag-austin-cindric","9":"tag-austin-dillon","10":"tag-bubba-wallace","11":"tag-ca","12":"tag-canada","13":"tag-chase-briscoe","14":"tag-chase-elliott","15":"tag-denny-hamlin","16":"tag-getty-images","17":"tag-kyle-larson","18":"tag-nascar","19":"tag-sean-gardner","20":"tag-sports","21":"tag-track-position","22":"tag-ty-gibbs","23":"tag-william-byron"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125498"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125498\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}