LAS VEGAS, Nev. – While running inside the top-10, Jamie McMurray saw one of his best runs of the season end after making contact with the backstretch wall and losing a right rear tire on Lap 213 of the South Point 400 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.
Caught up in the aftermath was Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contender Chase Elliott who had nowhere to go in his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet and piled into the back of McMurray’s Chevrolet. The incident was similar to Kevin Harvick and Erik Jones who were eliminated before the end of Stage 2 of NASCAR’s Playoff opener.
McMurray in his final year as a full-time driver for Chip Ganassi Racing made contact with the wall while battling for fifth with Team Penske’ Ryan Blaney.
“There was no smoke inside the car and the spotter said that he couldn’t see any smoke,” McMurray explained after the crash. “Typically, it will run a while, but I’m assuming the right rear tire must have rubbed a hole in it.”
Moments after the impact with McMurray, Elliott complained about his shoulder. Later, he was evaluated and released from the infield care center and said it shoulder was fine.
“I guess it just got caught in the wheel,” said Elliott who entered the Playoffs the eighth seed among 16 drivers. “It popped really big and then I got stopped and got messing with it and it popped really big again. All good now and we’ll try to rebound next week.”
With the poor finish in Vegas, Elliott heads to Richmond (Va.) Raceway next Saturday night 14th in the Playoff standings nine points behind Henrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman for the 12th place cutoff spot with two races remaining in the Round of 16.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
