In 2024, the Nashville race weekend was the nineteenth race of the season, and when NASCAR took on ‘Music Metropolis,’ it ended up being some of the consequential races of the 12 months.
was about half-a-lap away from taking the white flag and making certain he would win the Cup race at Nashville, with a detailed second. , who was winless up to now that season, ran 14th.
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However when misplaced management whereas battling for twenty first, it triggered some of the chaotic finishes of the 12 months. The unbelievable sequence occasions that adopted in the end determined not simply the race winner, however who would change into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Sequence champion … and keep in mind, Nashville wasn’t even a playoff race!
Additional time restart #1Overtime restart
Additional time restartSean Gardner / Getty Pictures
Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures
Gas was tight and whereas some automobiles selected to pit in the course of the first yellow, the leaders gambled and stayed out for the two-lap sprint. tried to maneuver Hamlin for the race lead, however missed and hit the apron earlier than taking pictures up the monitor and taking out fellow Chevrolet driver Chastain. A handful of automobiles had been collected within the ensuing chaos. Hamlin was nonetheless in command of the race whereas Logano now ran fourth.
Additional time restart #2
There was a little bit of a stack-up on the entrance of the sphere, however a wreck was prevented as one automotive within the again slid via the grass. Hamlin escaped with the lead once more, just for one other wreck to interrupt out mid-pack. Harrison Burton bobbled in the midst of the sphere and a number of other automobiles went spinning and crashing on the exit of Flip 2.
Additional time restart #3Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures
Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures
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Gas was now an actual concern however nobody needed to surrender the monitor place. Because the inexperienced flag flew, Larson’s automotive stalled out and the stack-up that adopted despatched into the skin wall. He was working inside the highest 5 earlier than that and in addition trying to find his first win of the 12 months. The veteran driver climbed from his automotive and simply threw his palms up in disappointment.
Additional time restart #4
Logano was now working third to the Toyotas of . and Hamlin, however neither needed to threat one other restart whereas working on fumes. Each drivers pitted, giving the result in Logano. On the restart, in sixth ran out of gasoline, simply as his teammate Larson did on the restart prior, Fortunately, everybody prevented him this time round. nosed forward within the battle for the win, taking the lead from Logano for a second earlier than he snatched it again on the exit of Flip 4.
With the white flag flying, he was able to lastly declare vict… — and we had one other warning. had wrecked and was stopped within the infield.
Additional time restart #5Joey Logano, Group Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Group Penske FordJames Gilbert / Getty Pictures
James Gilbert / Getty Pictures
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Nashville 2024 nonetheless stands as essentially the most additional time restarts in NASCAR Cup Sequence historical past.
This fifth restart would (fortunately) be the final, as Logano obtained a fantastic pull, with some distinctive names behind him, however it was (who had pitted) that was going to be the actual risk. He surged as much as second and was throughout Logano, however the Penske driver blocked him excessive. This allowed to have clear air on the underside and the rookie driver almost pulled off a surprising upset as he snatched second away and almost reached Logano’s again bumper. However it was not fairly sufficient as Logano crossed the road and received the race, lastly ending the occasion.
The highest ten when the primary warning flew for Cindric was as follows: Hamlin, Chastain, Larson, Busch, Gibbs, Wallace, Truex, Reddick, Buescher, Haley.
On the checkered flag, this was the brand new prime ten: Logano, Smith, Reddick, Preece, Buescher, Blaney, Wallace, Larson, Hemric, Gragson.
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The occasion ran 31 laps past the scheduled distance.
Why this race mattered a lot
Until you watch NASCAR each week, you are probably questioning why this chaotic end so essential. Properly, Logano was winless all through all the common season, except this one race. With out that single victory, he would not have made the playoffs in any respect.
And as destiny would have it, Logano marched via every spherical of the playoffs, even getting eradicated at one level (earlier than a post-race technical infraction for put him again in), in the end reaching the Championship 4. As soon as there, the veteran driver dominated the race and picked up his third Cup Sequence championship, beating teammate . And with out that easy spin from his different teammate [Cindric] in the summertime of that 12 months, none of this could have ever occurred.
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That proper there’s why profitable is so essential in fashionable NASCAR. One loopy race opened the door for Logano, who had a median end of 17.1, and he used that chance to launch himself all the best way to the championship.
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