The Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway delivered high drama in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. One man left with a guaranteed Round of 12 ticket, a handful of drivers gained crucial momentum — and several others saw their postseason dreams take a nosedive.
🏆 Race Winner: Denny Hamlin
- Result: 1st Place
- Story: From pole to victory lane, Hamlin was untouchable. He led 75 laps, secured his fifth win of 2025 and the 59th of his career, and punched his ticket to the Round of 12. He also bagged five extra playoff points, strengthening his championship arsenal.
✅ Other Winners: Wallace, Logano, Larson
- Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing) – Picked up a Stage 2 win, sits 30 points above the cutline, and is delivering career-best consistency. He’s now a real Round of 8 threat.
- Joey Logano (Team Penske) – Delivered exactly when needed, scoring Stage 2 points and a top-five finish. He clawed back above the cutline with his trademark clutch performance.
- Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) – Collected 16 stage points and a top-10 finish, giving himself a 40+ point cushion. He’s essentially clinched advancement and can go hunting at Bristol.
❌ Losers: Berry, Van Gisbergen, Dillon, Bowman
- Josh Berry (Wood Brothers) – Crashed out early again after contact with Chase Elliott. Two playoff races, two wrecks. He’s now in a must-win at Bristol, where his average finish is 17.7.
- Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse) – Spun late while running inside the top 20. Drops below the cutline heading into Bristol, where he finished 38th in the spring. First-round exit feels inevitable.
- Austin Dillon (RCR) – Another race outside the top 20. With just one top-five all year, his playoff ceiling is clearly the Round of 16.
- Alex Bowman (Hendrick) – Pit road nightmare part two: a botched tire change and a speeding penalty destroyed his day. Bowman’s playoff run is unraveling fast.
🔜 What’s Next
The Bristol cutoff race looms Saturday night under the lights. With Hamlin and Briscoe safe, all eyes are on the bubble — where Berry, SVG, Dillon, and Bowman must fight for survival in what promises to be a demolition derby-style playoff eliminator.
