Gibbs takes a bow after leading only 20 of 350 laps
By Roy J. Akers– www.skyviewsports.net
After a much-needed week off, CUP drivers will have a mini Chase to make the Playoffs before the real playoffs begin at Darlington. Four drivers are in and 18 more drivers have a realistic shot of the final 12 spots. So…..
Ryan Blaney will lead the flag to the green flag to begin Stage one.
Stage One (Laps 1-70)
The race is under caution on lap five of 350 at this early stage. Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Menards/Pennington Ford started from the pole and has led all five laps, the only driver to lead so far. Blaney posted the fastest lap of the race on lap two with a time of 24.408 seconds at 129.056 mph. On Lap 5, Tyler Reddick gets loose and collects Erik Jones into the wall. Reddick’s front end is destroyed.
Joey Logano goes around Kyle Larson for second and Gibbs and Austin Dillon are 4-5. Blaney finishes all 70 S1 laps in first. Logano, Larson, Gibbs and A. Dillon are P-2-5 Ford goes 1-2 in the Stage and Toyota corrals 4 of the top 10 spots.
Stage Two (Laps 71-210)
Drivers are overdue for pit stops, and some pit, including Gibbs. SVG goes into the wall on lap 91, bringing out a caution, and most of the leaders, including Blaney and Logano, come in. Bubba Wallace is your new leader with Chase Elliott second and Blaney barreling through the field to third. Lap 142, brings a caution as Carson Hocevar spins from 34th position.
With Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell trading the lead post-caution, Alex Bowman hits the wall. Bell gets around Hamlin, who falls to third, with Chase Briscoe 2.64 seconds behind with 35 to go in the Stage. Bell continues to lead S2 by nearly 4-seconds with ten laps to go. The biggest surprise in the race is the rookie Connor Zilisch in tenth place. Bell, a non-factor in S1 wins the Stage. Four Toyota’s are in the Top-eight. William Byron, usually a factor for Chevy, is showing signs of life, finishing 7th in S2.
Final Stage (Laps 211-Finish)
Christopher Bell gets by Ryan Blaney to take the lead while Chase Elliott pits from 13th. Bell leads Gibbs by 2.3 seconds on lap 278 Blaney third. Blaney pits with 65 to go gambling on a green flag pitstop. With most of the leaders pitting, the field cycles to Chastain, Noah Gragson and Zane Smith 1-2-3. But they are due for a pit stop. Drivers continue to make their final pit stops but the top seven drivers have to make a final pit stop.With the top eight drivers waiting to pit. There are only eight on the lead lap. Chastain is leading on borrowed time needing to pit running on fumes and he pits with 20 to go. Gragson and Loganopitand Gibbs has the lead with 17 to go. Gibbs, Bell and Blaney are running 1-2-3 with ten to go. With Blaney in third just over 7 seconds behind, its up to Gibbs and Bell to decide the race with Bell measuring the leader.Gibbs has nearly a car length lead on Bell and Bell has lapped traffic holding him back. Gibbs wins his second career race.
Checkered Flag
Ty Gibbs has picked up his second career victory with both coming this season.Gibbs picksup 69 points.
I want to ask you about Tyler Allen’s two-tire call, and you and I have had so many conversations this year about how this team has gelled. What’s really spurred that on in 2026?
TY GIBBS: :Just people that want to support each other. We made a big step from last year, obviously, and I really appreciate it. But I really appreciate all my teammates too. I wouldn’t be here without all my teammates as well, week in and week out, just help keep developing the program. And obviously we’re all up front for a reason. I really appreciate Denny and Chase and Christopher for all their help, obviously.“
They Said It…
TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 SupplyHouse Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing -Finishing Position: 36th-
Can you tell us what happened? Reddick: “Yeah, there wasn’t much. It was quick or I probably could have saved it. Just got out of shape in an area – corner entry – where I thought we were pretty secure all weekend. I feel awful for our SupplyHouse Toyota team. For us to take ourselves out is one thing, but to take out a fellow Toyota teammate when they are racing for the Chase – pretty much ended their day as well. It is the type of stuff you don’t do to yourself, and you don’t do to a teammate.”
Catching Up with High Banked Fury (More on Iowa after the links below)
Leigh Diffey on USA Broadcasts and top storylines Darlington President Jeff Harris and GFT’s Bob
Tale of the Tape
Fantasy
192 points. Ho Hum. The big surprise was Kyle Larson scoring only 12 points. Tyler Reddick loses his ride only 5 laps into the race. Ty Gibbs wins but his lack of a lackof track success at Iowa kept him on my bench. Blaney did well, but he will only appear in one of the final four races as will Kyle Larson. Hamlin Bell only has two races with thisthe Sky View Sports fantasy team. 182 points plus tenout of 40 to earn 192total. We will not pick up a lot of ground.
What’s Next?
