NASCAR investigating driver for late-race shenanigans that helped knock the defending champ out of the playoffs

• The dramatic race at the Charlotte Roval was won by Christopher Bell.

• Chase Briscoe used a late pass to avoid elimination and advance on points.

• Kyle Larson was knocked out of the playoffs due to the help of his teammate.

Defending champion KyleLarson was knocked out of the playoffs by a dramatic move by Chase Briscoe. NASCAR wants to know if his teammate helped him too much.

NASCAR is looking into a last-lap move by Cole Custer that allowed Ryan Briscoe to pick up enough points to advance and whether the team told him to interfere.

The data, video and radio transmissions from the 41 car are being reviewed by NASCAR. The results of the review will be communicated soon. The Round of 8 field won't be affected by any potential penalties.

The last sentence indicates that regardless of the findings, Briscoe will remain in the playoffs and Larson won't.

Dramatic final laps shuffled the playoff field

The dramatic race at the Charlotte Roval saw several lead changes and a constant reshuffling of which eight drivers would advance to the next round.

Bell only had one chance to advance in the playoffs.

Briscoe spun and fell to the back of the group, seemingly out of the playoffs. The gods stopped the race to fix the curb. Before the three-lap overtime, Briscoe was able to pit for new tires.

It would take 19 spots in three laps for Briscoe to catch up. A lot of the spots were made up by collisions and spins, including one by Cindric which knocked him out of contention.

It was the final pass before the checkered flag that sealed Briscoe's advancement and raised eyebrows among NASCAR officials.

As he neared the last chicane, he was tied with Larson and holding the tie-breaker. The deal was sealed with one more pass. Cole Custer slammed on his brakes a little early and allowed his teammate to fly by.

At the 55 second mark of the video from Briscoe's car, you can see Custer slide up in front of the green No. 3 car of Austin Dillon.

The final spot in the Round of 8 was secured by Briscoe after he passed two other people.

Extra air pressure in his tires allowed him to be more aggressive.

"I drove it further into the final chicane than I had all day because I knew every point was going to be important and I was lucky that it stuck, honestly," he said.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. exclaimed, "Cole Custer throwing a block right there on everyone!"

After the race, Earnhardt said he believed Cole Custer was trying to help out his teammate by throwing a block on the back straight.

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