Tire issues end race for Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell

FORT WORTH, Texas — Chase Elliott, who entered Sunday’s second-round playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway leading the points, crashed and finished 32nd.

A right rear tire issue caused Elliott to lose control while leading on Lap 184 of the 334-lap race.

He was the second playoff driver to be eliminated after tire issues. Christopher Bell finished 34th after having two right rear tires go down. After his second tire went down, Bell hit the wall. Cole Custer and Alex Bowman also had incidents after tire issues.

Elliott did not score stage points in the first stage and was eliminated before the end of the second stage, leaving him with no stage points. Bell also scored no stage points. Bell entered the race in a three-way tie for the final three transfer spots to the next round.

“To have two right rears go in the first half of the race is very strange,” Bell said. “I don’t know. It’s a very disappointing day. We are probably going to be in a deep hole now.”

The second round continues next Sunday at Talladega and concludes Oct. 9 at the Charlotte Roval.

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Tire issues end race for Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell originally appeared on NBCSports.com