The first race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs took place at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Quaker State 400 was a disaster for some championship contenders and a good day for others.
Most of the drivers managed to avoid problems during the first two stages of the race. Kyle Larson was not one of those drivers. Kyle began the run as the best streak in the playoffs. However, on lap 57 of the race, he had a problem that sent him into the wall and out of the race. Chase Briscoe, who had earned his spot in the playoffs with a win the week before, was involved in a crash that also ended his day.
Ryan Blaney was the winner of the first round under the caution flag after Kyle Larson crashed. The second stage saw only one yellow flag for debris on the track. Austin Cindrich was the winner of the second round and led the most laps in the race with 92.
The third stage saw the intensity build steadily as the race drew to a close. There were a total of five caution flags in the final stage. The second-to-last yellow sent the race into NASCAR overtime with a green-white-checkered finish.
Joey Logano led the field to the green flag on the restart. He was able to fight Daniel Suarez (winner of the spring race at Atlanta) to take the white flag. Joe’s teammate Ryan Blaney pushed him out to a bigger lead in the final lap of the race. Coming out of the turn, four cars began to collide behind the leaders, bringing out the caution and cementing the win that Joey already seemed to have well in hand.
This is Joe’s second win of the season and first in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. A win gives them an automatic berth into the next round of the postseason, the Round of 12.
Daniel Suarez finished runner-up and Ryan Blaney finished third. See complete race results for the Quaker State 400 here.
Clearly, Joey Logano leads the playoff standings leaving Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ryan Blaney is in second place, Christopher Bell is in third place. Drivers currently below the line for the round of 16: Brad Keselowski (-1), Harrison Burton (-16), Martin Truex Jr. (-19) and Chase Briscoe (-21). View the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings here.
The next race on the schedule is Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International Road Course on Sunday, September 15.
Author: Buck Stevens
