With 56 laps to go in the Quaker State 400, RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher got loose and clipped playoff driver Ryan Blaney.
The Team Penske driver got tipped into a half-spin before veering down the track and into the side of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr.
Behind them, van Gisbergen locked up trying to avoid the slowing cars ahead and slapped the outside wall.
The #16 driver reported a broken toe link, which was replaced under the caution. In doing so, van Gisbergen dropped four laps down.
The Kiwi had been running 25th prior to the incident. He finished two laps down in 32nd.
It capped off a tough day for the Kaulig Racing driver, who finished Stage 1 in 29th. He started Stage 2 in 32nd having received a penalty for speeding on pit road. Van Gisbergen finished Stage 2 in 29th before his Stage 3 incident.
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“That was tough to see our race end like that,” said van Gisbergen.
“I was hoping for a better result with my #16 Acceptance Insurance team, but there in the final stage, had a damaged right rear toe link that put us a couple laps down.
“We had a really good Chevy today, just unfortunate ending. Hoping to find some positive momentum heading into Watkins Glen next weekend.”
Blaney was the only driver to come away relatively unscathed. His #12 Ford Mustang carried some war wounds but was otherwise uninhibited.
The same couldn’t be said for the #19 Toyota Camry. Truex Jr. was forced to pit for repairs and eventually dropped several laps down.
Buescher in the #17 Ford Mustang was taken out of contention entirely and failed to finish.
Chris Buescher hits Ryan Blaney! Blaney gets into Martin Truex Jr.! #NASCARPlayoffs | USA Network pic.twitter.com/NA7cvgCM50
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 8, 2024
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