Sunday afternoon featured the NASCAR Cup Series taking on the high banks of the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway for its sixth race there since the repave. I had the pleasure of attending this race as a spectator, sitting just off pit exit, heading into Turn 1—and boy, was this race a classic! The Quaker State 400 was the first race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, marking the start of the battle among 16 drivers vying to become the NASCAR Cup Series Champion at Phoenix Raceway in November.
On Saturday, Michael McDowell snagged another pole on a drafting-style track, earning the top starting spot alongside playoff contender Austin Cindric, who is in his second career NASCAR Playoffs. Championship hopeful Denny Hamlin suffered a powertrain issue during qualifying, placing him 38th on the grid, nearly two seconds slower than the pole time. This issue also prompted his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs, to make adjustments before the race, forcing them to start at the rear.
Stage 1 saw pole sitter Michael McDowell hold off the pack for 29 laps before defending NASCAR Cup Series Champion Ryan Blaney took the lead, using momentum to make a clean pass. With a few laps remaining in Stage 1, Kyle Larson’s #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet slammed into the Turn 2 wall—likely due to a tire failure or mechanical issue—taking last week’s winner, Chase Briscoe, out of contention in the process. The stage ended under caution, with Blaney claiming the extra ten points and one playoff point. The Top 5 at the end of Stage 1 included Blaney, Cindric, and playoff contenders Alex Bowman and Joey Logano in third and fourth, respectively, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounding out the top five.
The race restarted on Lap 48 with Cindric and Bowman on the front row, but an early caution for debris on Lap 115 shuffled the field. During pit stops, Tyler Reddick, the Regular Season Champion and playoff contender, was hit by Carson Hocevar while exiting pit road. Despite this setback, Reddick managed to stay competitive on Atlanta’s high banks. Following the restart, Austin Cindric led for 90 laps and won Stage 2, collecting ten points and another playoff point in the process.
Stage 3 resumed on Lap 167 with Ross Chastain—who missed this year’s playoffs—leading alongside McDowell. A caution on Lap 176 was triggered when Legacy Motor Club’s John Hunter Nemechek slammed into the inside retaining wall. Pit road incidents ensued during this caution, as Daniel Suárez, who won the February race at Atlanta, collided with Joey Logano, and Corey LaJoie made contact with playoff contender Chase Elliott. Fortunately, all involved were able to continue with minimal damage. On the Lap 182 restart, Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs surged to the front, with Gibbs receiving a push from Chastain.
Another caution on Lap 206 occurred when Chris Buescher got loose, collecting Blaney and Truex Jr. in the aftermath. Buescher’s day ended prematurely, while Truex struggled with suspension issues, repeatedly returning to pit road. The race restarted with four laps-to-go, with Suarez initially getting the jump on the restart, but Gibbs surging ahead with help from Kyle Busch. Suarez received a push from Logano, allowing the duo to surge ahead. Before the white flag came out, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Noah Gragson slammed the inside retaining wall, prompting another caution. All the intensity was ramping up and those in the top-10 knew that they had to capitalize on this final restart.
The race went into overtime, with Suárez and Logano restarting side-by-side, and their teammates, Blaney and Chastain, poised to assist. Christopher Bell, who had a quiet afternoon, found himself in the Top 5. Logano took the white flag, with Chastain getting shoved into the wall. Despite Suárez’s push from Logano, it wasn’t enough, and Logano claimed victory in the playoff opener. Behind them, a late crash involving Denny Hamlin and Harrison Burton added to the chaos. Hamlin’s strategy of staying in the back all day didn’t pay off, and Burton’s wrecked car remained on the front stretch.
With this win, Logano secures his spot in the next playoff round, allowing him to approach the upcoming races at Watkins Glen International and Bristol Motor Speedway with less pressure. For other drivers, strong finishes at Watkins Glen will be crucial. Don’t miss the Go Bowling at the Glen this Sunday, August 15, on USA Network.
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