Ryan Blaney wins on roval when Jimmie Johnson wrecks out of playoffs

Jimmie Johnson saw an opportunity to snap a 58-race losing streak, and went for it. It cost him a shot at an eighth NASCAR championship and allowed Ryan Blaney to steal a surprise victory in the debut race of the “roval,” the combination road course and oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Had Johnson settled for second, he’d still be in the playoffs. Instead, he wrecked with Martin Truex Jr. and wound up in a three-way tie for the final spot into the second round of the playoffs. The seven-time NASCAR champion was eliminated Sunday on a tiebreaker.

“I knew where I was on the math,” Johnson said. “I didn’t think that I was going to crash or spin trying to overtake him like I did.