The race at Atlanta Motor Speedway led to a two-lap sprint in extra time with Ryan Blaney pushing his Penske teammate Joey Logano, and Ross Chastain pushing Trackhouse teammate Daniel Suarez. The Trackhouse drivers rapidly grew to become disconnected, clearing the way in which for Logano to win for the thirty fourth time in his profession and his second of the yr.
“Unimaginable execution from the workforce,” stated Logano, who now has two Cup wins at Atlanta. “When it is playoff time, it is our time. As I stated, we received to at all times get the extent up when it comes playoff time. They gave me an awesome Mustang. She was quick all day. Bought caught within the again slightly bit. It was arduous to get observe place again. Had a very good restart and received in direction of the entrance. Had my teammate Blaney behind me. That actually helped out within the final lap to have the ability to ensure a Penske automobile gained, in the end transfer on to the following spherical. Good day for all of the Penske automobiles. Bought plenty of stage factors as nicely.”
Logano spent six years dwelling in a apartment that overlooks the observe, saying of that have: “Spent plenty of time this race observe, dreaming about happening into Flip 1.”
Watch: Joey Logano: ‘When it’s playoff time, it’s our time’ after locking into the Spherical of 12
Suarez, who gained at Atlanta earlier this yr, simply missed out on the sweep. “I used to be fairly assured that the highest was going to be higher,” he stated post-race. “We received an awesome launch, however we simply received disconnected too early, and that clearly damage us … It is slightly painful. I really feel like we have been in place. Generally, it is very troublesome to foretell who’s going to get the most effective push and for the way lengthy they’re gonna get it. However we’re in competition.”
Early within the race, title favourite and prime seed Kyle Larson crashed after dropping management only a few laps shy of the Stage 1 end. Chase Briscoe was additionally collected, ending his race. Past that, the opening two phases have been pretty clear with Ryan Blaney profitable Stage 1 and Austin Cindric profitable Stage 2.
Gasoline gave the impression to be tight for the leaders close to the top of the race, however a warning with 56 laps to go supplied a much-needed help. Chris Buescher shot up the observe, hitting Ryan Blaney. Blaney spun and slid down the observe, colliding with Martin Truex Jr. — two playoff drivers with vital harm.
Ty Gibbs received management of the race, hoping to safe his first profession Cup win, however a warning for particles — a Walmart banner on the entrance stretch — pressured one other yellow with ten laps remaining. The closing laps developed right into a head-to-head battle between Penske and Trackhouse, however a wreck by Noah Gragson pressured the race into extra time.
Logano selected the underside and Suarez the highest. They have been even for a bit, however the Trackhouse drivers grew to become disconnected in Flip 3. On the ultimate lap, there was little Suarez may do in opposition to the Penske dup as Chastain received walled by Chase Elliott, igniting a race-ending crash.
Logano captured the checkered flag and as a result of timing of the yellow, Suarez was second and Blaney third. Christopher Bell was fourth, Alex Bowman fifth. Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Austin Cindric rounded out the highest ten.
Leaving Atlanta, the next drivers are beneath the cut-line: Brad Keselowski (-1pt); Harrison Burton (-16pts); Martin Truex Jr. (-19pts); Chase Briscoe (-21pts). Ty Gibbs at +1 and Denny Hamlin at +2 are simply above.
