Headaches Galore: Contenders Struggle in NASCAR Playoffs

Cars race under the lights during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Darlington, S.C., on Sept. 5, 2021. John Amis/AP Photo

DARLINGTON, S.C.—Kyle Busch slammed into the wall and wiped out several orange cones on his way to the garage. Chase Elliott told his crew chief simply, “It’s killed,” after he was crunched against the wall at Darlington Raceway.

It was a layout certainly “Too Tough To Tame” for some of the top contenders in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff opener on Sunday night.