By Luis Torres, Staff Writer/Photographer
The Chase for the championship kicked off for both the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Part Series this past weekend at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.
As the beautiful sunset turned into pitch black, feelings were hurt among certain competitors and others tried different strategies. But when the dust settled at “The Lady in Black,” two drivers shined bright and got key victories that’ll help their bid for a series championship.
In last Saturday’s 200-mile O’Reilly race, Sheldon Creed scored his second win of the season to make his presence known that he’s going for a championship. The following night, Christopher Bell won his first Southern 500 which snapped his winless streak dating back to last fall at Bristol.
Both number-one seed drivers dealt with issues that cut their championship leads. In the O’Reilly race, Justin Allgaier ended up finishing 17th and left Darlington with a seven-point advantage over Creed. On the Cup side, Denny Hamlin had a strong car in the Cook Out Southern 500, only for contact with Michael McDowell diminishing a solid night and crossed the line in 18th, 12 points ahead of Bell.
Both races showcase the beauty and demand Darlington can be for each driver in the sport. Moreso when the Chase amplifies the intensity and avoidance of mulligans that can come back and bite a driver.
Once again to highlight the race weekend, photographer Will McDermitt was there to capture the moments at Darlington in the latest installment of “In Pictures.”
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series — Fleetio 200
Cup Series — Cook Out Southern 500
Be the first to comment