Joey Logano advances in NASCAR playoffs after winning in Atlanta

Joey Logano secured his place in the next round of the NASCAR Cup playoffs by winning the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This result guarantees his advancement to the Round of 12.

The race, scheduled for 260 laps, extended to 266 due to a late caution. Ryan Blaney, Logano's teammate at Team Penske, supported him on the final lap. Logano held a significant advantage when a mid-pack crash caused the caution, sealing his victory.

This is Logano's second win at Atlanta and second of the season. Although he only led for nine laps, he capitalized on the situation. His teammate Austin Cindric dominated much of the race, leading 92 laps.

Daniel Suarez, who finished second, lost his teammate Ross Chastain in the final meters, affecting his chance to challenge for the win. Although pleased with the result, Suarez admitted he expected more if he had had his teammate's help until the end.

Ryan Blaney, who crossed the line in third place, now leads the championship. Despite being involved in an accident on lap 205, Blaney maintained a consistent performance throughout the race. This allowed him to gain a five-point advantage over Christopher Bell, who finished fourth.

One of the most significant moments occurred on lap 56, when Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe were involved in a crash. Larson lost control of his car and hit the safety barrier, and Briscoe could not avoid the impact, severely damaging his vehicle. Both drivers were forced to retire from the race.

Briscoe, coming off a win the previous week at Darlington, now faces a critical situation, as he will need a strong result in the upcoming races to stay in the playoffs. "It was a hard hit, but we’re fine. Now it's time to focus on what's next," Briscoe stated.

Tyler Reddick, regular-season champion, finished sixth despite issues in the pits. Kyle Busch, who is not competing for the playoffs, led 24 laps in the final stage and finished seventh. Chase Elliott and William Byron also placed in the top ten, finishing eighth and ninth, respectively.

Martin Truex Jr. dropped out of the race on lap 254 due to mechanical issues, complicating his playoff situation as he is now 18 points below the cutoff to advance to the next round.

The drivers now prepare for the next race at Watkins Glen, where they will attempt to secure their place in the next phase of the playoffs.