Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, will not compete in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway due to a leg injury.
The 38-year-old Almirola from Tampa, Florida, led 17 of 60 laps, including the final two to claim a second row starting spot for the Great American Race with his second career Duel win.
The 2018 Cup Series champion from Middletown, Connecticut, became the 17th different competitor to achieve multiple championships in NASCAR's premier series by claiming his second Cup title with a dominant victory at Phoenix.
Ross Chastain blasted his way into the championship round, pinning his No. 1 Chevy to the outside all and rocketing his way past Denny Hamlin for the fourth and final playoff spot.
The 27-year-old Bell from Norman, Oklahoma and the 29-year-old Chastain from Alva, Florida, both captured Championship 4 spots following a dramatic finish in the Paper Clip venue.
The 2021 Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, led a race-high 199 of 267-scheduled laps en route to his third Cup victory of 2022 and first at Miami.
The 2018 Cup Series champion from Middletown, Connecticut, led 32 of 267 laps, including the final two, to become the first competitor to secure a Championship 4 spot for the 2022 Cup Series season.
