The first race of the third round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs proved to be a rough ride for multiple championship contenders but not for Joey Logano, who came up aces Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Logano won the South Point 400, becoming the first driver to clinch a berth in the championship race. The two-time series champion edged Christopher Bell by 0.662 seconds at the checkered flag after starting 10th. Bell started on the pole and won Stage 2, while finishing second in the opening stage.
It’s been a crazy last two races for Logano, who was the last playoff driver to make the third round. The Team Penske driver only advanced to the Round of 8 after Alex Bowman was disqualified following last week’s race at Charlotte. Logano is now assured of a chance to race for his third championship in the last seven seasons, after winning the Cup Series title in 2018 and 2022.
“It’s an incredible turn of events coming from what was at the end of last weekend and what it was like Sunday night – after a couple hours after the race and to this Sunday. This sport is just incredible. Things change, but what a team I’ve got,” Logano said.
“It takes everybody to do it, so we’re in the Championship 4 again.,” Logano continued. “I’m so proud of this team. We just find a way and that’s what I’m most proud of. I said it as we entered this thing this week that we may be the underdogs, but I don’t think so anymore.”
At the other end of the spectrum, three playoff drivers saw Lady Luck turn against them in Las Vegas, with Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney each involved in crashes on Lap 90 following the Stage 2 restart.
Elliott made contact with Martin Truex Jr. and collected Reddick and Brad Keselowski. Reddick suffered the worst of the incident, with his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota spinning through the infield and flipping on its hood before flipping over again. While Reddick was somehow able to escape injury and drive the car back to pit road, the vehicle damage was too great to repair, and Reddick’s race was over. He finished 35th out of 37 drivers
Elliott also suffered major damage but was able to remain in the race, though the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team was forced to bring the Chevrolet back to the garage for repairs a few laps later. Elliott eventually returned the race, finishing 37 laps down in 33rd place.
Blaney was not involved in that incident but crashed further back in the field on the same lap, slamming hard into the wall after spinning while trying to avoid contact. Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske crew was able to repair his Ford, but Blaney finished eight laps down in 32nd.
Following Logano and Bell, Daniel Suarez, who was eliminated last weekend at Charlotte, finished third. William Byron, who is still in championship contention, finished fourth, with Hendrick teammate Bowman following in fifth. Truex, Ross Chastain, playoff driver Denny Hamlin, John Hunter Nemechek and Chris Buescher rounded out the Top 10.
SOUTH POINT 400: See full results of Sunday’s race at Las Vegas
The playoffs now move to Homestead-Miami Speedway next Sunday before the final elimination race in two weeks at Martinsville Speedway. Following Martinsville, the playoff field will be trimmed in half, leaving a final four to race for the championship, Nov. 10 at Phoenix Raceway.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joey Logano tops Christopher Bell to win NASCAR Las Vegas playoff race
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