KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Hendrick Motorsports got off to a slow start in NASCAR's playoffs despite starting the three-round title pursuit with the regular-season champion and all four of its drivers in the title hunt. Something was off immediately as Chase Elliott's 17th-place finish in the playoff opener at Darlington was the best of the Hendrick four and Alex Bowman, who narrowly made the 16-driver field, was immediately in danger of elimination. Joe Gibbs Racing swept the first three playoff races — and Bowman was indeed knocked out when the field was cut to 12 drivers — then Ryan Blaney of Team Penske won the opening race of the second round. It took until Sunday at Kansas Speedway for a Hendrick driver to finally get on the board as Elliott stole the victory in overtime by driving from 10

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