Joey Logano triumphed in the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, marking a dramatic start to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Logano’s win came during an intense two-lap overtime, which extended the race to 266 laps, well beyond the scheduled 260.
Logano, driving the No. 22 Ford, secured his second win of the season and the 34th of his career. With this victory, he not only advanced to the next round of the playoffs but also jumped to fifth in the playoff standings. His teammate, Ryan Blaney, played a crucial role in the victory, providing a strong push that helped Logano maintain his lead.
“It’s always special to win here,” Logano said after the race. “I grew up racing at this track. To pull into Victory Lane again feels amazing, especially with my team and sponsors like Autotrader here.”
The race had a clean start, with no incidents for the first 55 laps. However, chaos ensued on Lap 56 when Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe collided, sending both drivers to the sidelines. Larson’s car hit the outside wall at high speed, while Briscoe’s Ford was heavily damaged in the aftermath. Both drivers finished at the back of the pack, with Larson in 37th and Briscoe in 38th.
Logano’s closest competition in the final moments of the race came from Daniel Suárez, who finished a strong second. Suárez was unable to maintain his momentum in overtime after losing his teammate Ross Chastain, who had been helping him push. “I’m happy with second but not satisfied,” Suárez lamented. “We had a great shot at winning.”
Ryan Blaney’s third-place finish allowed him to take the lead in the overall standings by a narrow five-point margin over Christopher Bell, who finished fourth. Alex Bowman rounded out the top five, highlighting the strong performance from playoff drivers, who claimed nine of the top ten positions.
The race also saw some playoff contenders struggle. Martin Truex Jr., who faced multiple pit road issues, ended up 12 laps down, leaving him 15th in the standings and 18 points below the cutoff for the next round. Meanwhile, Tyler Reddick, the regular-season champion, finished sixth despite facing challenges on pit road.
As the race concluded, several drivers found themselves in precarious positions. Denny Hamlin, who ran near the back for much of the race, was involved in the last-lap wreck and finished 24th. He now sits just two points above the cut line heading into the next race at Watkins Glen.
With the playoffs now in full swing, drivers like Briscoe and Truex will have to regroup and strategize for the upcoming races. Briscoe, who previously secured his playoff spot with a win, acknowledged the need for a strong performance in the next events. “We just have to go win,” he stated, focusing on the challenges ahead.
As the NASCAR Cup Series moves to Watkins Glen International next week, the stakes are high, and the competition is fierce. The Quaker State 400 set the tone for an exciting playoff season, with Logano’s victory serving as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of racing and the fierce determination of its drivers.
RACE PHOTOS
All photos by Jason McDonald, JM Photography for CORE360 Sports