Logano beats Suarez to win NASCAR Cup playoff opener at Atlanta

The race at Atlanta Motor Speedway resulted in a two-lap sprint in additional time with Ryan Blaney pushing his Penske teammate Joey Logano, and Ross Chastain pushing Trackhouse teammate Daniel Suarez. The Trackhouse drivers shortly turned disconnected, clearing the best way for Logano to win for the thirty fourth time in his profession and his second of the 12 months.

„Unbelievable 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 bought to all the time get the extent up when it comes playoff time. They gave me an amazing Mustang. She was quick all day. Obtained caught within the again a bit of bit. It was exhausting to get observe place again. Had a superb restart and bought in the direction of the entrance. Had my teammate Blaney behind me. That actually helped out within the final lap to have the ability to be sure a Penske automobile received, finally transfer on to the subsequent spherical. Good day for all of the Penske vehicles. Obtained loads of stage factors as effectively.“

Logano spent six years dwelling in a apartment that overlooks the observe, saying of that have: „Spent loads of time taking a look at this race observe, dreaming about taking place into Flip 1.“

Watch: Joey Logano: ‘When it’s playoff time, it’s our time’ after locking into the Spherical of 12

Suarez, who received at Atlanta earlier this 12 months, 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 bought an amazing launch, however we simply bought disconnected too early, and that clearly damage us … It is a bit of painful. I really feel like we have been in place. Generally, it’s totally tough to foretell who’s going to get the perfect push and for a way lengthy they’re gonna get it. However we’re in competition.“

Early within the race, title favourite and high 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 successful Stage 1 and Austin Cindric successful Stage 2.

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Gas seemed to be tight for the leaders close to the tip of the race, however a warning with 56 laps to go offered 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 bought 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 advanced right into a head-to-head combat between Penske and Trackhouse, however a wreck by Noah Gragson pressured the race into additional time.

Logano selected the underside and Suarez the highest. They have been even for a bit, however the Trackhouse drivers turned disconnected in Flip 3. On the ultimate lap, there was little Suarez may do in opposition to the Penske dup as Chastain bought walled by Chase Elliott, igniting a race-ending crash.

Logano captured the checkered flag and because of the 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 under 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.