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NASCAR America: Kyle Larson’s elimination huge boost for remaining playoff contenders

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Due to an engine issue, Kyle Larson wasn't able to finish the Hollywood Casino 400 and was subsequently knocked out of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

On Monday’s NASCAR America, Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty and Nate Ryan talked about how Sunday’s outcome impacted the playoffs.

Ryan noted that Larson’s elimination with a blown motor -- the first since he began driving full-time for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2014 -- was further exacerbated that CGR uses Hendrick Motorsports engines.

And while Larson is eliminated, along with teammate Jamie McMurray in a crash in the race, the two remaining playoff drivers from the Hendrick camp advanced.

“I think Chip Ganassi Racing and Kyle Larson will put a happy face on it and say, ‘Look, we won four races this season with Hendrick Motorsports horsepower, this thing can happen at any time,’” Ryan said. “But I think that if you ask them honestly, privately, they would probably say that, ‘Yeah, that stinks a little bit.

“‘We have the engine failure and the team that’s supplying us with the engines, both of their drivers -- Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott -- advance’ on a day when it appeared Kyle Larson may have had a faster car than both of them.”

Check out more of what our analysts had to say in the video above.