Sunday’s race advanced right into a head-to-head battle between Workforce Penske and Trackhouse Racing, and because the warning together with a checkered flag waved over the beginning/end line, Joey Logano crossed because the winner forward of Daniel Suarez. However with the intention to get a full view of how the end performed out, we now have to rewind the clock a bit.
On Lap 178 of 260, a lot of the subject got here down pit street for the ultimate time. This included Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, and Ross Chastain. As for Ryan Blaney, his race almost ended almost 30 laps later. A mistake from Chris Buescher despatched Blaney into the surface wall with 56 laps to go earlier than he slid down the observe and into the facet of Martin Truex Jr.’s automobile. Shockingly, the physique injury wasn’t sufficient to severely hinder the No. 12 Workforce Penske Ford. The group did in depth work to the left facet and in addition gave him 4 contemporary tires. (Appropriately, the automobile was sponsored by ‘Dent Wizard’ for the race weekend.)
Joey Logano, Workforce Penske, Autotrader Ford Mustang, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Quaker State Chevrolet Camaro, Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske, Dent Wizard Ford Mustang take the white flag
Picture by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Photos
These tires proved advantageous, as one other driver who pitted for contemporary rubber rapidly rocketed to the entrance — Ty Gibbs. He was main the best way with Kyle Busch in sizzling pursuit when a curious warning for a wayward Wal-Mart banner on the observe arrange a dash to the end.
With a push from Logano, Suarez was capable of take the lead from Gibbs, just for Busch to place the Mexican driver three-wide. This seemed prefer it may be the tip of his shot on the victory. However proper then, his teammate Chastain dropped from the surface to the center, lastly connecting the 2. On the similar time, Chastain’s transfer allowed Blaney to drag up behind fellow Penske driver Logano.
With these teammates locked collectively, Gibbs may do little to defend as each Suarez and Logano pulled to his exterior. The far inside line with Gibbs and Busch then disintegrated they usually had been swallowed up by the pack.
Joey Logano, Workforce Penske, Autotrader Ford Mustang, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Quaker State Chevrolet Camaro and Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing, He Will get Us Toyota Camry
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Suarez and Chastain held the underside lane, however that rapidly modified as a crash by Noah Gragson pushed the race into additional time. Logano was scored because the race chief, giving him the choice to choose a lane. He took the underside, forcing the Trackhouse drivers to maneuver up high. Suarez later mentioned that he was “fairly assured” within the exterior line’s capability to prevail, so he was unconcerned.
Nevertheless, there was one other main issue to contemplate. Blaney had 30 lap brisker tires than anybody round him, permitting him to actually hold that automobile planted whereas shoving Logano ahead. The tandem drafters had been neck-and-neck on the restart. The pivotal second got here in Flip 3. Blaney selected to again off Logano’s bumper simply earlier than coming into the nook whereas Chastain, on a lot older tires than Blaney, remained glued to Suarez. Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet pushed up the observe, breaking the drivers aside and leaving Suarez to fend for himself.
Chastain tried to get again to him and did for a second coming into Flip 1 on the white flag lap, solely to push up once more. The win was slipping away, however Chastain was now lined up with one other Chevy [Chase Elliott] straight behind him. Nevertheless, on the similar time, Christopher Bell shot up the center and ensured the Trackhouse drivers had been by no means getting again collectively. Simply then, an ungainly bump despatched Chastain into the surface wall whereas Logano skipped away with the race win. This igniting a race-ending crash, however both method, the race was misplaced the second the Trackhouse drivers grew to become disconnected.
Joey Logano, Workforce Penske, Autotrader Ford Mustang
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Suarez was capable of maintain on for second place, leaving Atlanta with a 22-point benefit, however after coming agonizingly near the sweep, all he may take into consideration was the misplaced win.
“No, positively not happy,” he admitted. “I’m pleased with it, however not happy. I misplaced my pusher, my teammate. He was doing an amazing job, and I felt like we had been going to have an amazing shot at it. Ross was doing a tremendous job of pushing, and I don’t know if he obtained a flat tire or one thing, however as soon as I misplaced him, I knew it was going to be robust. However, that’s a part of racing, proper?
Suarez now has two runner-up finishes and one win in his final three Cup races at Atlanta. “It was day,” he added. “Each time you get second, it is that shut, you are feeling such as you had been in place to win, and also you did not win, it would not matter for those who obtained factors day or not. I do not really feel actually good proper now. Nevertheless it’s a part of it.”
Joey Logano, Workforce Penske, Autotrader Ford Mustang, Winner, Victory Lane, Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske, Dent Wizard Ford Mustang
Picture by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Blaney was simply shocked to be in competition after almost enduring a race-ending crash with round 60 laps remaining.
“Actually I can not consider we obtained again up the place we did,” mentioned the reigning Cup champion. “The 12 boys did a very good job fixing it. I am shocked it did not have extra injury than what it did. From my seat, I obtained drilled within the left rear or the door I assume is the place he hit me. The proper rear obtained off the fence. I did not understand how broken we had been. I used to be sort of capable of carve up by way of visitors and will sort of get by way of the center fairly good. Actually pleased with the hassle”
In contrast to Chastain, Blaney is a part of the playoffs and so he wasn’t simply searching for his teammate within the closing laps. He admitted that there was “a considered going three-wide on the frontstretch,” however he thought higher of it. “I am like, man, it will be tight, we have already got day going, nice factors, all that stuff. Yeah, third, a very good day … This factor appears ugly, however actually good end.”
Blaney is now 45 factors above the cut-line whereas Logano turns into the primary driver to lock himself into the Spherical of 12.
