The NASCAR playoffs wasted no time turning chaotic at Darlington. Josh Berry’s debut unraveled instantly. After qualifying third, he spun exiting Turn 2 on Lap 1, clipped Tyler Reddick, and slammed the wall. He returned to the track but finished 38th, 128 off the pace. According to NASCAR’s Playoff Pulse, the Southern 500 was brutal overall, with 10 of the 16 playoff drivers running into trouble before the night was done. Adding to that list was Christopher Bell’s clash with Hocevar that turned disastrous, especially for the former.

Coming into the postseason, Bell had carried steady but unspectacular form, qualifying well on intermediates but lacking the consistent wins of his rivals. For him, the playoffs were meant to be a chance to reset and prove himself as a contender. But Hocevar r

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