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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

NASCAR Xfinity Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 race today at Texas Motor Speedway saw Harrison Burton finish first. However, he won’t see himself sealing a spot for Phoenix because he was already ousted from the playoff race in the Round of 12.

And while it was ecstasy for Burton, Noah Gragson was crestfallen. Gragson was leading for the majority of the race, feeling confident of winning and progressing to the championship.

However, in the last lap, he saw himself being edged off of Turn 4 by Burton. He, then, as a result, had to make do with a second-place finish instead.

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Reflecting on it post-race, he said, “I had planned, and I had prepared for that moment and obviously it didn’t work. So frustrated with myself in letting that one slip away. Just because I know how much it is a difference-maker in our sport.

USA Today via Reuters

With 2 or 3 to go, I think he passed them. And I thought that was going to be enough to hold him off but he was so much faster, he ran me down,” he expressed.

Gragson currently finds himself outside a transfer spot. He is 24 points below the cutline and is joined by the likes of Brandon Jones, Ross Chastain, and Ryan Sieg at 4, 15, and 43 points below the cutline, respectively.

In Turn 3 you’re on top of the world and the next thing you know you feel like a total POS,” Gragson said about the race.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Round of 8 race as it stands after Texas

The race going into Martinsville is going to be super exciting.  There are 3 championship spots to be clinched, and the only one confirmed for now belongs to Chase Briscoe after the win at Kansas.

Anthony Alfredo from Richard Childress Racing ended up in the 3rd spot. Austin Cindric, and Brandon Brown, made up the Top-5. behind him.

USA Today via Reuters

Briscoe, the hero from Kansas, however, could not repeat the performance and found himself at 24th. Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, and Ryan Sieg had a forgettable outing at Texas with finishes of 25th, 26th, and 31st respectively.

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Currently going into Martinsville, there are only 3 drivers that find themselves in a transfer spot- Austin Cindric(+14), Justin Allgaier(+8), and Justin Haley(+4).

To round off the current situation, Noah Gragson, along with the 3 drivers that find themselves above the cutline, have all to race for at Martinsville.

On the other hand, Chase Briscoe, who has the qualification tension out of the way, will take it as a dress rehearsal for his big day at Phoenix.

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