Kurt Busch needed a great showing Sunday afternoon at Dover International Speedway to advance to the Round of 12, but so far the race hasn't gone his way.
Busch was 15th in the points entering the race ahead of only Kasey Kahne, and he needed to have a better race than Ryan Newman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, and Kahne to have a chance. Instead, Busch was hit with a pit road penalty in the final stage of the race with less than 65 laps to go, which will be very difficult to overcome.
Oh no, Kurt Busch gets a pit road penalty! He's needing a miracle with less than 65 laps to go. #KB41 #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/wbUKviQG20
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 1, 2017
Related: Four drivers are heading into their final stage of the season after Stage 2 at Dover
Busch was running 17th heading into the final stage, so the penalty was the last thing he needed.
#NASCARPlayoffs tiebreakers go to driver with best finish in Round of 16. Here's how bubble drivers stand. pic.twitter.com/CJDsGYsXKP
— NASCAR Classics (@NASCARClassics) October 1, 2017
He has a little time to make up some ground, but the pressure is mounting on all the drivers on the brink of elimination.