Blown Tires Cost 3 Playoff Drivers Big

Despite each of the 3 drivers' issues, all 3 had great days going for them this weekend at Kansas.

Wallace Following a Rear Tire Failure at Kansas. Image: NASCAR on FOX

Before the last lap of the race, 10 of the 16 Playoff drivers had issues at Kansas on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, that number seems to be right on par despite drivers and teams needing to minimize mistakes in the Playoffs. Sadly, tires appeared to be an issue that bit 3 of the Playoff Championship 4 hopefuls that no one could foresee or really do much about. 

Regular Season Champion Martin Truex Jr. was the first to see the issue and his problems began on Lap 1. Truex had a fantastic day lined up, with a fast Camry and a P 3 starting spot. But as soon as the drop of the green flag, Truex lost spot after spot before on Lap 4 losing a Right Rear and sending him hard into the Turn 3 wall ending his day. This would net Truex a single point scored and a 36th-place finish. 

The next Playoff driver to see a tire issue was the feel-good story of defending race winner, Bubba Wallace. Wallace was Bad Fast all throughout Stage 1 even scoring 9 Stage Points. Wallace was the only car that could keep up with race leader Kyle Larson on both the short and long runs, even contending for the lead. Lap 109, the 23 would blow a right rear as well while running in the second position after closing into the 5 for the lead just moments before. This would end Wallace's day after contact with the wall would break the rear Toe-link. Wallace would end the race scoring 14 Points, 4 Laps down finishing 32nd. 

The last Playoff driver to have issues was Chris Buescher. Running Top-15 at the time, on Lap 262, Buecher would lose a right rear as well bringing out the last caution of the race. His tire going would send the 17 car into the wall as well bringing his day back to a 27th place finish 1 lap down. Buescher would only go on to score 12 points due to his lost tire. 

By: Tom Luttermoser