Joey Logano beat Daniel Suarez to victory in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff opener in Atlanta to secure his place in the Round of 12.
The race ended in a two-lap overtime dash, with Logano running low and receiving a push from Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and Suarez running the high lane and taking assistance from Trackhouse teammate Ross Chastain. The latter two separated early, paving the way for Logano to take his second win of 2024 and strike first in the NASCAR playoffs.
Kiwi star Shane van Gisbergen finished two laps down in 32nd, having made contact with the wall in Stage 3 while avoiding a wreck ahead, which broke a toe link.
The three-time Supercars champion lost four laps while in for repairs but gained two back as the ‘lucky dog’ during two late cautions.
Van Gisbergen was running 25th at the time of the incident.
Several drivers competing in the playoffs found trouble in the opening round, including Kyle Larson, who wrecked heavily on his own near the end of Stage 1 and was collected by Chase Briscoe, which forced both drivers out.
That incident aside, the opening two stages were relatively drama-free and won by Blaney and Austin Cindric, respectively.
Having qualified 28th, van Gisbergen finished the first 60-lap stage in 31st and was 28th at the end of Stage 2.
Lap 206 was when the next incident came, with Chris Buescher getting loose and collecting Blaney. Martin Truex Jr. had nowhere to go down low and clipped the Penske machine.
Buescher could not resume, while Truex, a playoff contender, lost 12 laps on the field while in for repairs. Blaney took damage but returned to proceedings and eventually finished third.
Van Gisbergen collected the outside wall while avoiding this wreck, which cost him several laps for repairs.
Suarez took the lead off Ty Gibbs on Lap 249, two tours before the next caution was required when an advertising sign fell off the fence and onto the track.
With four laps remaining, Noah Gragson spun from 16th after contact from Harrison Burton and went into the wall, which brought about an overtime restart.
Logano started inside, and Suarez up high, with the former holding the lead until the end, which came early when Chastain was hit into the wall by Chase Elliott on the last lap, triggering a large wreck that caught out the likes of Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin.
Blaney crossed the line second but was classified third, as Suarez was 0.001 seconds ahead when the caution was shown.
A road course outing awaits next weekend at Watkins Glen.
Header Image: Sean Gardner/Getty Images (Supplied)
