The first NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race took place at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Quaker State 400 was a disaster for some Championship hopefuls and a good day for others.
Most of the drivers managed to avoid issues through the first two stages of the race. Kyle Larson was not one of those drivers. Kyle started the race as the top seed in the playoffs. However, on lap 57 of the race he had an issue that sent him into the wall and out of the race. Chase Briscoe, who earned his spot in the playoffs by winning a week earlier, was caught up in the accident that also ended his day.
Ryan Blaney was the winner of stage one under the caution flag from the Kyle Larson accident. Stage two saw only a single yellow flag for debris on the track. Austin Cindric was the winner of stage two and led the most laps in the race, 92.
Stage three saw the intensity increase steadily as the race got closer to the end. There was a total of five caution flags in the final stage. The second to last yellow sent the race into a NASCAR Overtime of a Green-White-Checkered finish.
Joey Logano led the field to the green flag on the re-start. He was able to fight off Daniel Suarez (the winner of the spring race at Atlanta) to take the white flag. Joey’s teammate Ryan Blaney shoved him out to a bigger lead on the final lap of the race. Coming out of turn four cars began crashing behind the leaders bringing out the caution and cementing the win Joey already appeared to have well in hand.
This is Joey’s second win of the season and first win in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The win gives him an automatic advance to the next round of the post-season, the Round of 12.
Daniel Suarez claimed a runner-up finish with Ryan Blaney taking home third-place. See the complete race results for the Quaker State 400 here.
Obviously, Joey Logano is the leader in the playoff standings leaving Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ryan Blaney is in second and Christopher Bell is in third. The drivers that are currently below the cut line at this time for the Round of 16 are Brad Keselowski (-1), Harrison Burton (-16), Martin Truex Jr. (-19) and Chase Briscoe (-21). See the complete 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings here.
The next race on the schedule is the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International road course Sunday, September 15th.
By: Buck Stevens
