NASCAR insiders discuss fallout of Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick crash at Las Vegas

During Stage 2 of the South Point 400, Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick got into one another and changed the NASCAR Playoffs. Now, Elliott and Reddick are in huge points deficits with only two more races in the Round of 8.

There isn’t a lot of time for Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick. However, they have a little bit of time. Executing in the next two weeks will be massive for these two teams. They aren’t out of it yet, but teeter on that must-win territory.

Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic talked about the wreck on The Teardown podcast. This might be the most consequential wreck of the season.

“So, Tyler Reddick makes it three-wide on the top with Truex on the bottom, Chase Elliott in the middle. Now, to me, it looked like it was Truex’s fault,” Gluck said. “Like, Truex is the one who kind of came up the track and pitched Chase Elliott into Reddick who then hit the wall, hit Elliott, Reddick obviously flips over. By the way, one of the most badass things I’ve seen, he flips over and then drives the car back to his pit stall after he was sliding upside down. … You don’t see that very often, for sure.

“Obviously, Reddick was done after that. Elliott had long, long repairs in the garage. Lost 20-something laps or whatever it was. He ended up, he quit, after he couldn’t make up anymore spots they just pulled it in and parked it. They were like, ‘We’re just not going to finish this race.’ After he wasn’t going to catch Blaney. … Certainly, as well, Ryan Blaney who had to start in the back due to a flat tire in practice in a backup car and he crashed. He got a piece of that as well as Keselowski came up.

“So, three playoff drivers there, Truex involved, and it changes the game quite a bit for those guys because now Reddick is -30, Blaney is -47, and Chase Elliott is -53. They are in really bad shape already with two races to go in this round. Are you thinking that for them it’s must-win territory already?”

Jordan Bianchi agreed. This is a huge blow to these teams, and for the 45 team in particular. A win might be what it takes for either of those three to make it to Phoenix.

“Yeah, I think it’s must-win and honestly, I feel if I’m Tyler Reddick if you don’t win at Homestead I think your playoff’s over,” Bianchi explained.

Given Tyler Reddick’s history at Martinsville, that isn’t a terrible take. Chase Elliott can win at either track, but hasn’t shown winning speed really at all this season. As for Ryan Blaney, he now needs a walk-off win to keep the dream alive for a repeat champion.