NASCAR at Las Vegas results: Kurt Busch sneaks into next round with caution-aided win

Kurt Busch used an unexpected stroke of luck Sunday at Las Vegas to claim the first race of NASCAR's playoff Round of 12.

Late in the final stage, the front of the pack was burned by a caution amid green-flag pit stops, with only Kurt Busch still out on the track among playoff contenders. He took advantage of being placed up a lap to win in his hometown for the first time in his career.

The victory gives Kurt Busch automatic advancement to the next round.

Think @KurtBusch is excited to win in his hometown?@LVMotorSpeedway // @CGRTeams // #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/EJ4WrsUI46

— #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2020

Emotions ran high during the South Point 400, as Joey Logano's role in preventing a Kyle Busch win last weekend caused controversy that leaked into Sunday's contest. Logano blocked Chase Elliott in Stage 1 and again butted cars with Kyle Busch.

Kyle Busch finished sixth, while Logano and Elliott failed to crack the top 10.

Sporting News tracked live updates and lap-by-lap highlights from Sunday's NASCAR race at Las Vegas. Follow below for complete results from the South Point 400.

South Point 400 finishing order among playoff drivers

Playoff picture after NASCAR at Las Vegas

NASCAR at Las Vegas results, highlights from South Point 400

10:23 p.m.: KURT BUSCH WINS AT VEGAS.

Now that we've caught our breath...how the playoff drivers finished:

1. KuBusch
3. Hamlin
4. Truex
5. Bowman
6. KyBusch
10. Harvick
12. Bowyer
13. Keselowski
14. Logano
17. Almirola
22. Elliott
32. Dillon

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 28, 2020

Playoff picture after Las Vegas

4. Brad Keselowski: +16
5. Martin Truex Jr.: +15
6. Joey Logano: +11
7. Chase Elliott: +10
8. Alex Bowman: +9
---------------------------
9. Kyle Busch: -9
10. Clint Bowyer: -20
11. Aric Almirola: -27
12. Austin Dillon: -32

— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) September 28, 2020

Finish:

1. @KurtBusch

2. @mattdracing

3. @dennyhamlin

4. @MartinTruex_Jr

5. @AlexBowman88

6. @KyleBusch

7. @Blaney

8. @Erik_Jones

9. @Chris_Buescher

10. @KevinHarvick #NASCAR

— Chris Knight ツ (@Knighter01) September 28, 2020

KURT BUSCH wins at his hometown track of Las Vegas for the first time and advances to Round 3 of the playoffs!

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 28, 2020

10:18 p.m.: There's going to be overtime.

10:12 p.m.: Caution for Byron.

Lying on the floor, lying on the floor. I've cooooome undone.

William Byron's tire comes apart and we'll have less than five laps remaining on NBCSN! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/PjRfujsYNx

— #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2020

CAUTION 7 TO GO: Spin by @WilliamByron!#NASCAR | #SouthPoint400

— Jacob Seelman (@JacobSeelman77) September 28, 2020

10:11 p.m.: Hamlin moves up to fifth place.

10:10 p.m.: Kurt Busch is worried one of his tires is giving out but wants to go for it with 10 laps left.

.@KurtBusch gets away with the lead, but it's chaos behind him!

Less than 10 laps to go in the #NASCARPlayoffs Round of 12 opener on NBCSN! pic.twitter.com/NF6vyKpC5x

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020

10:09 p.m.: Green flag with 12 laps remaining.

10:01 p.m.: Caution for a crash. Stenhouse involved. Logano will get the free pass on the restart.

A slide by @JHNemechek will reset the field once again.

Another restart is coming up at @LVMotorSpeedway. 👀 pic.twitter.com/yGzNOOEG2d

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020

no no no don’t turn right in nascar#NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs @LVMotorSpeedway pic.twitter.com/RZNl6LI9aW

— Steve Luvender (@steveluvender) September 28, 2020

9:57 p.m.: Back to green with 25 laps left.

9:49 p.m.: Caution during green-flag stops has flipped this race.

On Truex's radio: "It's a f***ing clown show." https://t.co/1EYBziZXgm

— Alex Andrejev (@AndrejevAlex) September 28, 2020

The running order just got turned upside down. Top 10 had yet to pit.

Bowman on back were at least one lap down.

Big break for @KurtBusch, who has spent the majority of the night outside the top 15.

— Dustin Albino (el-bee-no) (@DustinAlbino) September 28, 2020

Debris caution with 32 to go

Jimmie Johnson has right rear damage as his tire came apart.

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverAW) September 28, 2020

9:41 p.m.: With 40 laps to go, Hamlin is in first place with Bowman behind him by less than a second. Martin Truex Jr. is in third place.

9:37 p.m.: Things aren't looking great for Austin Dillon, the surprise performer of the prior playoff round.

"I can't steer it!"

Trouble for #NASCARPlayoffs driver Austin Dillon with about 50 laps remaining in the first race of the second round!

TV: NBCSN pic.twitter.com/Fq3aWq9uLI

— #NASCARPlayoffs on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2020

9:32 p.m.: How about this for a dicey restart?

4-wide!#SouthPoint400 | #NASCARPlayoffs

pic.twitter.com/1WscP3xa3s

— Las Vegas Motor Speedway (@LVMotorSpeedway) September 28, 2020

9:22 p.m.: Austin Dillon is dinged with an untimely penalty.

Huge implications.

Dillon will be all the way back in 27th on the restart. https://t.co/la1HnTtLm1

— Cameron Richardson (@therichreport) September 28, 2020

9:16 p.m.: Caution for debris.

9:10 p.m.: Bowman's lead was brief. Hamlin passes him.

9:06 p.m.: Alex Bowman is in the lead.

Bowman the Showman ➡️ P1 #NASCARPlayoffs contender @AlexBowman88 goes to the front in Vegas! pic.twitter.com/hymrHZCK1U

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020

8:54 p.m.: Chase Elliott wins Stage 2.

Chase Elliott wins Stage 2, his eighth stage win of the season (second-most in the series). He'll have 22 playoff points to carry into Round 3 if he makes it.

Rest of top 10:

2. Hamlin
3. Bowman
4. Truex
5. Blaney
6. ADillon
7. Harvick
8. DiBenedetto
9. Bowyer
10. Byron

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 28, 2020

8:50 p.m.: 10 more laps in Stage 2.

8:31 p.m.: Green-flag pit stops are starting.

8:27 p.m.: Elliott is back in first place.

8:25 p.m.: The unplanned pit stop really hurts Logano's position. He falls a lap behind.

8:19 p.m.: Logano is the biggest pest in the sport. This contact messes up Kyle Busch's crush panel and saps Busch's speed. Logano has to pit for a minor tire problem.

CONTACT BETWEEN @KyleBusch AND @joeylogano! 😱

The drama continues between the #NASCARPlayoffs contenders! pic.twitter.com/sELKdwWVol

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2020

8:05 p.m.: Hamlin wins Stage 1. 

Hamlin wins opening stage ... Hamlin Logano KyBusch Elliott Harvick ADillon Blaney Bowman Truex Bowyer, then DiBenedetto Johnson Almirola Jones Custer KuBusch ... 21st-Keselowski #nascar

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 28, 2020

8:00 p.m.: Hamlin still leads with 10 laps remaining in Stage 1.

7:45 p.m.: We told you there would be drama.

“Make sure the nose is OK from that dipshit up there,” says Chase Elliott, referring to Joey Logano’s block. The 9 team responds, “He needs to get sent sooner or later.” | #NASCAR

— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) September 27, 2020

7:42 p.m.: At that restart, Elliott appears to have been obstructed by Logano.

You have been blocked by user Joey Logano#NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs @LVMotorSpeedway pic.twitter.com/a3VNGdx27M

— Steve Luvender (@steveluvender) September 27, 2020

Joey Logano has been making massive blocks early in this race, and so far getting away with it. We’ll see how long that lasts, though | #NASCAR

— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) September 27, 2020

Oh, I don't think @chaseelliott was happy with Logano.

There's another friend lost.#nascar

— Chris Knight ツ (@Knighter01) September 27, 2020

7:39 p.m.: Denny Hamlin now takes over first place.

7:37 p.m.: Kyle Busch moves in front after a competition caution.

Elliott dropped from the lead to fifth, he got pinched in his stall and struggled to get off pit lane.#NASCAR | #SouthPoint400

— Jacob Seelman (@JacobSeelman77) September 27, 2020

7:21 p.m. Chase Elliott, who started third, has grabbed an early lead.

Let's do this @LVMotorSpeedway. 😤

The green is out in the #NASCARPlayoffs Round of 12 on NBCSN and streaming at https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC! pic.twitter.com/cil9p4Nr7b

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 27, 2020

7:18 p.m.: Green flag!

7:08 p.m.: Engines are fired.

7:04 p.m.: Anthem is complete at Las Vegas.

NASCAR race start time today

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 27
•  Start time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBCSN
• Live stream: NBC Sports Go | fuboTV (7-day free trial)

The green flag for Sunday night's NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas is scheduled to wave at 7:17 p.m. ET. For drivers, the later the start time the better considering the high in Las Vegas on Sunday will flirt with 100 degrees.

The 7 p.m. ET start time will make mid-race adjustments key for race teams, especially at a mile-and-a-half oval like Vegas. The track will be hot and slick at the beginning of the race and get cooler and faster as the night progresses.

NASCAR starting lineup at Las Vegas

Here is the complete starting lineup for Sunday night's NASCAR race at Las Vegas: