By: Zach Arnold

Over the last few weeks, the battle for the final playoff spot in the NASCAR Cup Series became more chaotic after each race. Realistically, you could say it came down to the final lap of the regular season, because it did.

17 drivers were looking to punch their ticket at Daytona International Speedway last Saturday. Only three drivers were able to make it into the playoffs by points – Bubba Wallace, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez. Every other driver would have to leave Daytona victorious to make it in.

One of those three drivers listed above was involved in the race’s first caution. Rookie, Ty Gibbs, was taken out of the event while leading the final lap of Stage 2. His playoff hopes were washed away after a push from the car behind him and a hard hit with the turn-four wall.

“I feel like all of our teammates were working really well together tonight. I may have got a push in a bad spot, but we were going for the stage win,” Ty Gibbs told the media post-race. When asked about his emotions after missing the playoffs the 20-year-old said, “I don’t know, just sucks, trying to rub it in?”

At this point in the race, Wallace had one job: don’t let a winless driver take the checkered flag. Sounds simple, right? Last year, seven drivers who finished in the top ten at Daytona were in a must-win scenario. Austin Dillon was one of them; he punched his ticket into the 2022 playoffs with a win.

Unfortunately for Daniel Suarez, Wallace did not let a new driver win. He also remained clear from each wreck, making it almost impossible for Suarez to make the playoffs on points. The No. 99 Trackhouse Chevrolet would not earn its colored name banner in 2023, and Suarez’s hopes of the playoffs fell short. He finished the race in 20th.

With that, Wallace would get both of 23XI Racing’s Toyotas into the playoffs with the 16th final playoff spot. Wallace finished the race in 12th.

“I’m just relieved. I apologized to my wife (Amanda) all week. I haven’t been myself – I’ve been stressing. Thankful that we are in it.” Wallace said post-race. He also spoke on what this meant to him and his team. “What an incredible feat for our 23 team. I had a heart-to-heart with my team after Atlanta after qualifying – I said if we got our shit together, we can do great things in the Playoffs.”

Tune in to NBC Sports for the first NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, September 3rd, at 6pm EST.