Ryan Blaney's Round of 8 started off poorly, crashing out early in the race and finishing last of the eight remaining playoff drivers.
Blaney's 12 Team Penske Ford hit the outside wall late in stage one, resulting in a disappointing 38th-place finish.
Huge playoff implications on Lap 72! @Blaney has trouble and gets into the wall.
Despite this setback, history suggests that Blaney should not be counted out, as he has previously overcome similar challenges to win his way into the title race.
Three drivers will join Denny Hamlin, winner of the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, in NASCAR's championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway.
Author's summary: Blaney faces an uphill battle in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.