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In the final NASCAR Cup Series race of the 2022 regular season, Austin Dillon emerged victorious in the co*ke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday morning. It is Dillon's first win of the season, clinching one of the last two playoff spots.
NASCAR @NASCARCHECKERED FLAG: HE NEEDED A WIN. HE GOT A WIN.<a href="https://twitter.com/austindillon3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@austindillon3</a> wins at <a href="https://twitter.com/DAYTONA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DAYTONA</a> and clinches a spot in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCARPlayoffs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASCARPlayoffs</a>! <a href="https://t.co/Q0nNofEgru">pic.twitter.com/Q0nNofEgru</a>
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBCRETWEET to congratulate <a href="https://twitter.com/austindillon3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@austindillon3</a> on making the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCARPlayoffs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASCARPlayoffs</a> with a WIN at <a href="https://twitter.com/DAYTONA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DAYTONA</a>! <a href="https://t.co/YJ1lgDmLx6">pic.twitter.com/YJ1lgDmLx6</a>
The drivers who finished on Sunday overcame multiple crashes and a lengthy weather delay. Dillon was followed by his Chevrolet teammate Tyler Reddick, who finished second. Austin Cindric was right behind him in third place.
The last playoff spot was clinched by Ryan Blaney, who finished 15th on Sunday, respectively. Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. were the two drivers with the most points who hadn't won a race this season. An extra playoff spot opened when it was announced Thursday that Kurt Busch will miss the start of the postseason because of his ongoing concussion-like symptoms.
Here's a look at the top-10 finishers from Saturday's race, as well as a recap of the highlights.
co*ke Zero Sugar 400 Results
1. Austin Dillon
2. Tyler Reddick
3. Austin Cindric
4. Landon Cassill
5. Noah Gragson
6. Cody Ware
7. BJ McLeod
8. Martin Truex Jr.
9. David Ragan
10. Kyle Busch
Full results available at NASCAR's official site
The race was originally scheduled to take place Saturday night, but it was postponed because of rain in the Central Florida area.
The action Sunday started early when Kyle Larson's day quickly came to an end because of engine issues. Larson had been hoping to earn more points heading into the playoffs, as the top 10 finishers in the regular season standings automatically receive playoff points.
Late in Stage 1, the first caution of the day came out when Denny Hamlin got loose and multiple cars wrecked behind him, including Ryan Blaney, who was fighting for one of the last two playoff spots as the driver with the most points who hasn't won a race this season.
After the one-lap restart, Joey Logano took the win in Stage 1 to bolster his playoff position.
Blaney's pit crew was able to take care of the damage before the six-minute time limit was up, allowing him to continue in the race. He later met the minimum speed requirement to continue and get another opportunity to pit for more repairs. The day ended for Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski, the latter of whom needed a win to make the playoffs.
Stage 2 was fairly uneventful. Kyle Busch took the win after a late battle for the lead. Truex finished second to gain more points and close the gap with Blaney.
As Stage 3 was set to begin, more rain and lightning started approaching in the area, so pit crews informed their drivers to up the aggression in case the race is stopped.
The fireworks started early in the final stage, as Tyler Reddick bumped Michael McDowell, which led to a multiple-car wreck. Truex was involved and had damage to his right front fender, putting his playoff hopes in jeopardy.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBCCRASH.<br><br>Martin Truex Jr. is among the many involved in this one at <a href="https://twitter.com/DAYTONA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DAYTONA</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASCAR</a><br><br>📺 : <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNBC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/peaco*ckTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peaco*ckTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/ltvvYdJ8sC">pic.twitter.com/ltvvYdJ8sC</a>
Later in the race, Chase Briscoe made an aggressive move to briefly take the lead, but he lost control and another massive wreck occurred. Briscoe's car briefly went airborne. Multiple drivers had their playoff hopes come to an end with that crash.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBCAnother crash!<br><br>Chase Briscoe and more involved. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASCAR</a><br><br>📺 : <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNBC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/peaco*ckTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peaco*ckTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/4YlyeNVIiK">pic.twitter.com/4YlyeNVIiK</a>
Justin Haley emerged as the leader out of the restart, which didn't last long. Haley aggressively blocked Erik Jones, who then ran into Logano and brought out another caution.
Haley remained in the lead coming out of the next restart, but he faced a battle from Daniel Suarez and Aric Almirola and quickly fell behind both of them. Hamlin made a move to the front of the pack, passing Suarez.
Soon after the thrilling bit of racing, another huge wreck basically took out the entire field. It appears that rain had just got started and caused the drivers battling for the lead to lose control. Austin Dillon somehow managed to escape the crash by staying at the bottom of the track and sneaking out for the lead.
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBCBIG CRASH in Turns 1 and 2 and Daytona!<a href="https://twitter.com/austindillon3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@austindillon3</a> SOMEHOW avoids all the mayhem and comes out in the lead! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASCAR</a><br><br>📺 : <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNBC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/peaco*ckTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peaco*ckTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/aYYdF1hp6l">pic.twitter.com/aYYdF1hp6l</a>
NASCAR on NBC @NASCARonNBCHow did race leader <a href="https://twitter.com/austindillon3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@austindillon3</a> make it through that big wreck?<br><br>Ride on-board the No. 3 car. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASCAR</a><br><br>📺 : <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNBC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/peaco*ckTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peaco*ckTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/SuOOmYdUAV">pic.twitter.com/SuOOmYdUAV</a>
The rain caused the race to be red-flagged with 21 laps to go, creating a likely anticlimactic end to the battle for the last two playoff spots.
After a lengthy delay that lasted nearly three-and-a-half hours, the track was finally dried and the race restarted with 16 laps to go. Austin Cindric quickly moved into the lead over Dillon, which changed Truex's approach as a repeat winner would've pushed him into the playoffs. But Truex later fell back to ninth place with five laps to go, effectively ruining his postseason chances.
Cindric held the lead for a while, but Dillon made his move with three laps remaining and bumped him out of the way for the lead. Dillon had some help blocking from his Chevy teammate Reddick, and he was able to earn his first win of the year. Truex missed the playoffs by three points.
The Cup Series playoffs round of 16 will begin on Sunday, Sept. 4, with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.
