The decision, which came just before the halfway point due to impending darkness, completely changed the complexion of the race.
Drivers who had pitted during earlier caution periods could potentially stretch the fuel and make it to the abbreviated distance without any further stops.
This was not the case for race leader Christopher Bell, who had won both stages. After he and the other frontrunners pitted at the conclusion of Stage 2, he restarted in 12th position and never made it back to the lead.
His crew chief Adam Stevens came over the radio after NASCAR made the call, saying: "Well, there it is, they f***** us."
Although shortening races due to impending darkness has been done before, the timing of the decision was criticised, with some saying it gave an unfair advantage to those who had pitted prior.
Even still, it was one of the drivers who were caught out by the call that actually went on to win the race, with Shane van Gisbergen driving from 18th to 1st in the closing laps.
The drivers who finished second (Justin Haley) and third (Chase Elliott) were among those who had gained substantial track position after pitting just prior to the call being made. Looking through the finishing order, half of the top-ten finishers were beneficiaries of the call to shorten the race while the other half were forced to pit at an inopportune time because of it.
Bell, who led a race-high 37 laps, ended up 18th after a late-race spin.
Source: Autosport