CONCORD, N.C. – The drivers knew that the first inaugural "roval" race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway was going to be more of a survival issue than anything else. And that's the only way to describe how Ryan Blaney became the surprise winner of the Bank of America Roval 400 Sunday.

"I almost failed trying to get through the quibble as fast as I could just because you are trying to save time and you are trying to seize the moment, but it was sort of the way it was. disbelief, "said Baney after taking the checkered flag after the game. the leaders have spun. "I did not really know what – I was just a little shocked that something like that had happened and you're lucky to be here.

"And luck has not been on our side very often and sometimes you find a nut."

The first playoff playoff race on the semi-oval and semi-road course did not respond to the hype and anticipation of chaos until the last six rounds, and the drama – there including the winner of the race and the progress of the playoffs – actually returned to the drivers. "The last time around the circuit of 17 laps, 2.28 miles.

As Jimmie Johnson struggled to overtake race leader Martin Truex Jr. in the final round, the seven-time champion of the Coupe Series lost control and sped through the chicane on the last stretch just before the line of arrival, taking Truex with him.

Miraculously, Blaney survived the disorder and slipped to win his first race in 2018 and his second overall place in his career.

Johnson, meanwhile, saw his hopes of eliminated playoffs shattered. Instead of returning home in second place, he crossed the finish line in eighth place after regaining his # 48 Chevrolet. This result, however, left him in a tie to three to qualify for the 12th place, and eventually lost the tiebreaker in front of Aric Almirola and Kyle Larson.

"I was more concerned with victory than with anything else," said Johnson on a pit-way. "I hated that I started to coast and took Martin and me. That was the last thing I wanted to do. I thought I was going to be in the braking zone of choice, but I drove it too hard and jumped.

"I did not think I'd hit him at first. I knew I was shooting but I did not think I picked it up in my spin. I regret it certainly.

"And finally, we were in a transfer position and we did not get it. So … I'm just living for the victory. Victories are so important. The veteran could have taken the route safely. And unfortunately, we had to come out of the playoffs – and we eliminated the 78. "

Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones and Austin Dillon – who did not continue after touching down on lap 65 – were also eliminated from the playoffs. Hamlin finished 12th and Jones 30th.

The accident on the last lap with Truex and Johnson was not the only incident in the relatively uneventful race that affected several drivers in the playoffs.

At the start of lap 103 of 109 in total, Keselowski paved the way for a restart. But Ford's # 2 driver lost control and slipped into the barrier of turn 1 – nicknamed "Heartburn Turn" – and took Larson and Kyle Busch with him, along with William Byron, Paul Menard and Trevor Bayne.

"Maybe we all went off the track, maybe the track had something on it – I do not know," Keselowski said afterwards, still unsure of what had happened six laps from the end.

"I'm in the corner. I did not feel like I came in. I entered the hard but not like a ridiculous, and it was just blocked. I could not unlock the tire. "

Fortunately for Keselowski and Busch, they won the first two playoff races in the round of 16 and automatically registered for the second round. Truex made progress based on the number of points earned before Sunday's race, while Harvick also made it through just starting Sunday.

Larson managed to put his badly damaged car back on the track and limp to finish 25th, which was enough to put Chip Ganassi Racing's driver in the match against Johnson and Almirola, who rebounded after his fight to finish 19th. Both drivers passed Johnson with better results in the first two races of the first lap.

Clint Bowyer (third), Alex Bowman (fourth), Kurt Busch (fifth), Chase Elliott (sixth), Kevin Harvick (ninth), Joey Logano (10th), Truex (14th), Kyle Busch (32nd, DNF) and Brad Keselowski (31st, DNF) – with Larson and Almirola – has qualified for the round of 12, which will debut next Sunday at Dover International Speedway.