One team has odd exit from Daytona 500

Austin Dillon was written off as a championship contender before NASCAR’s playoffs even began and he knew no one expected him to go far. Dillon raced his way into the playoffs with a win at Texas, just his third in seven full Cup Series seasons, and he has never been considered a threat for the title. NASCAR goes to Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday for the first elimination race and William Byron, Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto and Ryan Blaney are all below the cutline.

Atlanta Motor Speedway is going to be reconfigured after Sunday’s race as NASCAR pushes to keep cars closer together on the track.