NASCAR Atlanta live updates: Highlights, results as Joey Logano takes victory in playoff race during overtime
Joey Logano rose to the occasion with significant support from teammate Ryan Blaney, capturing the victory in the first NASCAR Cup Series playoff race during overtime on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Logano, who started the playoffs ranked ninth among the 16 drivers, celebrated only his second win of the season, and it was the first since he triumphed in Nashville on June 30. The two-time Cup Series champion is known for excelling during playoffs, and this trend continued with his performance during the Quaker State 400’s overtime.
“They always provide me with speedy cars on superspeedways, and we consistently find ourselves in contention,” said Logano, referring to his No. 22 Team Penske Ford crew. “The team was outstanding today. It felt great to make the most of a fast car and win here in Atlanta once more.”
On the overtime restart, Logano was positioned on the inside of the front row next to Daniel Suarez, the winner of the Atlanta race in February, which concluded in a thrilling three-wide photo finish involving Blaney and Kyle Busch. Blaney was right behind Logano on the second row, while Suarez had his teammate Ross Chastain lined up behind him. As the green flag was waved, both Logano and Suarez received powerful pushes from their teammates. However, Chastain lost control and could not maintain his push, which allowed Logano to take the lead while Blaney moved alongside Suarez.
Logano maintained his lead as the finish line approached, despite a multi-car crash occurring behind him. Suarez narrowly claimed the second position over Blaney, as playoff drivers occupied the top six positions: Christopher Bell finished in fourth, followed by Alex Bowman in fifth and Tyler Reddick in sixth. Kyle Busch was the sole non-playoff driver in the top 10, finishing seventh, trailed by Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Stage 2 winner Austin Cindric.
On the last lap, Chastain hit the wall while trying to gain ground on Suarez for one final push. This resulted in a pile-up, involving playoff competitors Harrison Burton and Denny Hamlin, along with Bubba Wallace, Cody Ware, Todd Gilliland, BJ McLeod, Josh Berry, Erik Jones, and Zane Smith.
With this win, Logano progresses to the second round of the playoffs.
NASCAR playoff standings after Atlanta race
Logano now leads the playoff standings following his victory in the Quaker State 400, while Ryan Blaney moves from fifth to second with his third-place finish, and Suarez climbs from 11th to ninth. Kyle Larson, who entered as the top driver, faced challenges after an early crash forced him out of contention.
The top 12 competitors after three races will advance to the next round, while the bottom four will be eliminated. The second playoff race is set for next Sunday at Watkins Glen International, which will be a road-course event.
Logano claims victory in NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta
Joey Logano emerged victorious in a green-white-checkered overtime during the opening playoff race of the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Logano received crucial pushes from teammate Ryan Blaney, allowing him to overtake Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez during the first lap of overtime in the Quaker State 400. Suarez narrowly finished second as a significant crash unfolded behind them.
NASCAR playoff race goes to overtime after Gragson’s spin
Noah Gragson spun in his No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford after contact with Harrison Burton and hit the inside wall, prompting the caution flag and extending the race into overtime.
Team Penske’s Joey Logano had just taken the lead from Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez before the yellow flag was waved. Both drivers had teammates lined up behind them for the green-white-checkered restart, with Blaney in third and Chastain in fourth. Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell occupied the third row in fifth and sixth positions respectively.
Caution out for debris with 11 laps remaining at Atlanta
A sponsor sign fell onto the track on Lap 249 of 260, leading to the caution flag as Daniel Suarez had just seized the lead from Ty Gibbs. Suarez had won the February race at Atlanta in a thrilling three-way finish involving Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch.
Busch and Joey Logano formed the second row, with Ross Chastain and William Byron placing in Row 3, while Blaney and Christopher Bell made up Row 4. Several cars pitted for extra fuel before the restart.
Busch and Byron take the lead on restart in Stage 3 at Atlanta
Kyle Busch and William Byron led the field at the wave of the green flag with 49 laps left in the playoff race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Ross Chastain and Chase Elliott occupied the second row, followed by Michael McDowell and Alex Bowman.
Three-car wreck causes caution in Stage 3 at Atlanta
On Lap 206 of 260, Chris Buescher lost control, spinning into Ryan Blaney and collecting Martin Truex Jr. This incident brought out the caution flag, and Buescher ended up in the garage with damage after hitting the wall.
Truex made a pit stop to fix his car. Meanwhile, Erik Jones also came to pit road due to a flat tire.
During the caution lap that followed, several drivers, including race leaders Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs, as well as playoff contenders such as Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, Harrison Burton, and Denny Hamlin, stopped for fuel. Blaney joined them for some minor repairs and refueling.
Gibbs and Wallace Take the Lead After Caution at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace opted to stay on the track during the latest caution, leading the pack back to green with 79 laps remaining. Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney, who both made pit stops, were in third and fourth respectively.
Nemechek Crashes into the Inside Wall Early in Stage 3
On Lap 176 of 260, John Hunter Nemechek lost control and spun across the track, crashing into the inside wall with his No. 42 Toyota, prompting the caution. At that moment, he was running in 23rd place.
Ross Chastain and Michael McDowell were leading when the caution came out, followed closely by William Byron, Alex Bowman, Ty Gibbs, and Daniel Suarez in the top six positions.
Cindric Claims Victory in Stage 2 of Atlanta Playoff Race
Austin Cindric from Team Penske dominated Stage 2, leading nearly every lap to claim the win over his teammate Ryan Blaney, who previously took Stage 1. Alex Bowman from Hendrick Motorsports finished third, followed by Daniel Suarez in fourth and William Byron in fifth, all of whom are playoff competitors.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ross Chastain, who are not in the playoffs, completed the stage in sixth and seventh, respectively, followed by playoff drivers Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, and Christopher Bell.
Cindric led the field into pit road for fuel and tires as the final stage began. Chastain and McDowell chose to take just two tires instead of four, giving them the advantage in the pit exit.
Caution Issued for Debris on the Front Stretch
After 55 laps of green flag racing in Stage 2, the caution came out for debris located on the front stretch. Austin Cindric had successfully led every lap of Stage 2 and brought the pack down for fuel and tires.
Cindric maintained his lead post-cautions, followed closely by Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, and Daniel Suarez, who previously clinched a win at Atlanta in February. Tyler Reddick collided with Carson Hocevar in the pits, and Christopher Bell received a penalty for pitting outside his designated box. There are 41 laps remaining in Stage 2.
Cindric Takes Charge Early in Stage 2
Following a strong push from teammate Ryan Blaney, who won Stage 1, Austin Cindric surged to the front of the pack shortly after Stage 2 began. Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman and William Byron were running third and fourth as they approached Lap 80. The second stage consists of 100 laps, following a 60-lap opening stage.
Ryan Blaney Secures Stage 1 Victory Amid Caution
Ryan Blaney clinched Stage 1 after Kyle Larson’s significant crash on Lap 57, which also involved Chase Briscoe. The initial stage of the Quaker State 400 concluded under caution. Following Blaney were his teammate Austin Cindric, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman, and Penske’s Joey Logano. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. came in fifth, trailed by Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., and Ty Gibbs.
Stenhouse and Chastain are the only drivers from this group not participating in the 2024 playoffs.
Kyle Larson Experiences a Major Crash in Stage 1’s Final Laps
Kyle Larson encountered a violent crash on Lap 57, slamming into the Turn 2 wall just before Stage 1 ended. He entered the playoffs as the points leader and was racing in the top three when he lost control and hit the wall head-on with his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet before sliding back onto the track and getting rear-ended by Chase Briscoe of Stewart-Haas Racing.
Both drivers managed to exit their vehicles, which sustained extensive damage, concluding their races prematurely. Briscoe had secured a playoff spot in the last regular-season race with a victory at Darlington.
Blaney Takes Control in the NASCAR Playoff Race at Atlanta
After Michael McDowell had an impressive start leading the first 28 laps of the Quaker State 400, Ryan Blaney from Team Penske made his move. He dove low in Turn 1 and passed McDowell for the lead on Lap 29. The top six positions were all held by cars from Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports, including Blaney, Austin Cindric, and Joey Logano from Penske, alongside Hendrick’s Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, and William Byron.
McDowell Dominates the Initial Laps of the NASCAR Playoff Race at Atlanta
Although Michael McDowell isn’t in the playoffs, his thirst for victory remains strong. After qualifying on pole, McDowell led all 25 laps of the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Green Flag Signals Start of NASCAR Playoff Race at Atlanta
The first NASCAR Cup Series playoff race of the 2024 season has commenced. Pole sitter Michael McDowell and the reigning series champion are leading the way as the Quaker State 400 kicks off at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
What Channel Is the NASCAR Playoff Race at Atlanta On?
The Quaker State 400 will be aired on USA Network, with a pre-race show starting at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Is There a Live Stream Available for the NASCAR Playoff Race at Atlanta?
You can stream the Quaker State 400 live on NBC.
You can catch the race on the sports website and the NBC Sports app, or you can stream it on Fubo.
What is the weather forecast for the NASCAR race at Atlanta?
The weather looks perfect for racing! According to AccuWeather, expect sunny to partly cloudy skies with temperatures climbing into the high 70s or low 80s as the race kicks off.
How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta?
The Quaker State 400 consists of 260 laps on the 1.54-mile circuit, totaling 400.4 miles. The race is divided into three segments: Stage 1 has 60 laps, Stage 2 encompasses 100 laps, and Stage 3 wraps up with another 100 laps.
Three of four JGR drivers will start at the back in Atlanta playoff race
For Sunday’s Quaker State 400 at Atlanta, three drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing—Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., and Ty Gibbs—will begin at the back of the pack due to a plug wire change. Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota faced a plug wire issue during qualifying, which affected its performance. The same problem was identified in Truex’s No. 19 and Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyotas after qualifying. All these JGR drivers are part of the playoffs, alongside Christopher Bell, who is starting without any issues.
Who is starting on the pole in the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta?
Michael McDowell has secured the pole position for Sunday’s race by achieving the fastest time during Saturday’s qualifying session. Reigning Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney will share the front row as Ford drivers claimed the top five qualifying spots and six of the top seven overall.
What is the lineup for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta?
Car number in parentheses; (P)=playoff driver
- 1. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
- 2. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford
- 3. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford
- 4. (4) Josh Berry, Ford
- 5. (2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford
- 6. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet
- 7. (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford
- 8. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
- 9. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet
- 10. (14) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford
- 11. (48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet
- 12. (21) Harrison Burton (P), Ford
- 13. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford
- 14. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet
- 15. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
- 16. (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet
- 17. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
- 18. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
- 19. (6) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford
- 20. (54) Ty Gibbs (P), Toyota
- 21. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford
- 22. (19) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota
- 23. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota
- 24. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
- 25. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
- 26. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota
- 27. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
- 28. (16) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
- 29. (51) Justin Haley, Ford
- 30. (99) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet
- 31. (15) Cody Ware, Ford
- 32. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
- 33. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
- 34. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet
- 35. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
- 36. (78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet
- 37. (44) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet
- 38. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota
Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at Atlanta?
On February 25, 2024, Daniel Suarez led for nine laps and clinched victory in a nail-biting finish against Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch. Previously, in the last year’s Quaker State 400, William Byron led the final 19 laps before the race was stopped due to rain after completing 185 laps on July 9, 2023.
What are the driver standings heading into the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta?
- Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports 2040
- Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing 2032
- Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing 2028
- William Bryon, Hendrick Motorsports 2022
- Ryan Blaney, Team Penske 2018
- Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing 2015
- Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports 2014
- Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing 2008
- Joey Logano, Team Penske 2007
- Austin Cindric, Team Penske 2007
- Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing 2006
- Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports 2005
- Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing 2005
- Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing 2005
- Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing 2004
- Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing 2004
How do the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs work?
A total of sixteen drivers have qualified for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs—14 achieved this through winning during the regular season, while two winless drivers secured spots based on points.
The playoffs comprise 10 races, including the championship event at Phoenix Raceway on November 10. It features three rounds, with three races in each round leading up to the final race. After the third, sixth, and ninth races, the four drivers with the least points will be eliminated, eventually leaving four contenders to race for the championship.
If a playoff driver wins a race during any of the three rounds, they will automatically progress to the next round. If a non-playoff driver wins, playoff drivers will advance based on the points they earned during that round.
What is the full schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
Below is the schedule including dates, tracks, times, and broadcasting details for each of the 10 NASCAR Cup Series playoff races (All times are Eastern)
- Sunday, Sept. 8: Atlanta Motor Speedway, USA, 3 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 15: Watkins Glen International, USA, 3 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 21: Bristol Motor Speedway, USA, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 29: Kansas Speedway, USA, 3 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 6: Talladega Superspeedway, NBC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 13: Charlotte Roval, NBC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 20: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 27: Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 3: Martinsville Speedway, NBC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 10: Phoenix Raceway, NBC, 3 p.m.
What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Atlanta start?
The Quaker State 400 will begin at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway located in Hampton, Georgia.