Joey Logano Wins NASCAR Playoffs Opener At Atlanta In Overtime
It was a reminder that NASCAR is a team sport.
Joey Logano won the Cup Series Playoffs opening round at Atlanta in an overtime finish that saw two teams face off in a two-lap sprint for the checkered flag.
Following a caution period caused by Harrison Burton turning Noah Gragson with five laps to go, Logano lined up in the first position on the inside with spring Atlanta winner Daniel Suarez next to him as their teammates Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain filed in behind them in the second row.
The four ran the first lap neck and neck until Chastain lost the draft, allowing Logano to pull away from the pack.
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Chastain then hit the wall on the last lap, which led to a pile-up that brought out a race-ending yellow flag as Logano exited the final turn.
The playoffs picture was shaken up early in the race when Kyle Larson hit the wall and Chase Briscoe ran into him, both of their days ending on lap 56. Martin Truex Jr. struggled with a poorly performing car all day and also suffered damage which resulted in a 35th place finish.
Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin and Burton all finished outside of the top 15 to hurt their positions in the playoffs standings, which looks like this heading to Watkins Glen next week:
Joey Logano – 1 win
Ryan Blaney +45
Christopher Bell + 40
Tyler Reddick +33
William Byron +33
Alex Bowman +27
Austin Cindric +27
Chase Elliott +24
Daniel Suarez +22
Kyle Larson +15
Denny Hamlin +2
Ty Gibbs +0
Brad Keselowski -0
Harrison Burton -15
Martin Truex Jr. -18
Chase Briscoe -20
Click here for the full race results from Atlanta
