Logano stretches gasoline to win in 5 overtimes

Joey Logano stretched his gasoline technique over a NASCAR Cup Sequence file of 5 overtimes to win at Nashville and clinch a playoffs place.

Logano inherited the lead after the third extra time when Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr have been each pressured to pit for gasoline. He seemed to be in place to assert the win within the fourth extra time, however a warning got here out simply earlier than Logano took the white flag.

Figuring out in the event that they pit he would lose, Logano and his crew chief Paul Wolfe determined to remain out and gamble for the victory.

After a powerful restart by Logano, the gasoline mild got here on in his #22 Ford through the closing lap, however he was in a position to fend off a problem from Tyler Reddick and edged Zane Smith by 0.068 seconds to assert his first win of the season and thirty third of his profession.

“I am out of breath,” Logano stated. “We had it received off of [Turn] 4 [in the fourth overtime] after which the warning got here out, and I used to be like, ‘oh, my God,’ however you possibly can’t pit. You have sort of bought to go for it. Boy, it was shut.”

Requested in regards to the aid of creating the playoffs, Logano stated: “A lot stress. Making an attempt to make the playoffs will not be straightforward nowadays with these Subsequent-Gen automobiles and everyone seems to be so equally matched. I made a variety of errors, even some tonight, and it is good to have the ability to overcome.”

With Logano’s win, all three Penske drivers have now certified for the playoffs – with all three of their wins coming within the final 5 races, following Ryan Blaney’s triumph at Iowa and Austin Cindric’s at Gateway.

In an eventful Nashville contest, the race was red-flagged for almost 80 minutes on lap 136 when lightning and rain was reported within the space.

Hamlin had appeared sure for victory after passing Ross Chastain with seven laps of the unique 300 laps remaining, till Cindric spun to carry out a warning and ship the race into the primary of 5 overtimes. The Joe Gibbs Racing runner ended up twelfth.

Reddick claimed third forward of Ryan Preece in fourth and Chris Buescher in fifth.

NASCAR Cup Nashville – Race outcomes