Whether you like him or not, he has been purposely smashed and dumped, multiple times by HMS drivers, and just all across the board. Bowman not even trying to hide it, purposely wrecked him, so Chase wouldn't have to worry about a close finish. I mean he sprinted to the 9 car, like a dog that just did something he thinks he would be proud of lol. Larson dumped him last week, and the list goes on. He's taking it all in stride without complaint, and seemingly not driving as hard this year, almost driving as to not be noticed hanging around 19th-5th position. Normally he races for the win, and that's what people really like about him, not that sometimes he is careless and causes an accident, because he's a hard driver and gets tunnel vision, but I feel like he's just taking licks, and not complaining, like it's an initiation. They'll let him into the garage circle, if they get to wreck him, to dumb it down. Basically just letting others race him harder than he is willing to race them. I think he's doing it on purpose, as some sort of apology, but it's going to be a weird playoff if he's not in it.