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.
Denny Hamlin was about half-a-lap away from taking the white flag and guaranteeing he would win the Cup race at Nashville, with Ross Chastain a detailed second. Joey Logano, who was winless to this point that season, ran 14th.
However when Austin Cindric misplaced management whereas battling Noah Gragson for twenty first, it triggered some of the chaotic finishes of the 12 months. The unbelievable sequence occasions that adopted finally determined not simply the race winner, however who would turn into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Collection champion … and bear in mind, Nashville wasn’t even a playoff race!
Additional time restart #1
Additional time restart
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
Gas was tight and whereas some vehicles selected to pit through the first yellow, the leaders gambled and stayed out for the two-lap sprint. Kyle Larson tried to maneuver Hamlin for the race lead, however missed and hit the apron earlier than capturing up the observe and taking out fellow Chevrolet driver Chastain. A handful of vehicles have been collected within the ensuing chaos. Hamlin was nonetheless in charge 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 sector, however a wreck was prevented as one automotive within the again slid by means of 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 sector and a number of other vehicles went spinning and crashing on the exit of Flip 2.
Additional time restart #3
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
Gas was now an actual concern however nobody needed to surrender the observe place. Because the inexperienced flag flew, Larson’s automotive stalled out and the stack-up that adopted despatched Kyle Busch 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 Martin Truex Jr. and Hamlin, however neither needed to danger one other restart whereas working on fumes. Each Joe Gibbs Racing drivers pitted, giving the result in Logano. On the restart, Chase Elliott in sixth ran out of gas, simply as his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Larson did on the restart prior, Fortunately, everybody prevented him this time round. Chase Briscoe 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.Josh Berry had wrecked and was stopped within the infield.
Additional time restart #5
Joey Logano, Crew Penske Ford
Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs
Nashville 2024 nonetheless stands as essentially the most extra time restarts in NASCAR Cup Collection historical past.
This fifth restart would (fortunately) be the final, as Logano obtained an incredible pull, with some distinctive names behind him, however it was Tyler Reddick (who had pitted) that was going to be the true risk. He surged as much as second and was throughout Logano, however the Penske driver blocked him excessive. This allowed Zane Smith to have clear air on the underside and the rookie driver almost pulled off a shocking upset as he snatched second away and almost reached Logano’s again bumper. Nevertheless 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 high ten: Logano, Smith, Reddick, Preece, Buescher, Blaney, Wallace, Larson, Hemric, Gragson.
The occasion ran 31 laps past the scheduled distance.
Why this race mattered a lot
Except you watch NASCAR each week, you are probably questioning why this chaotic end so necessary. Nicely, Logano was winless all through all the common season, except for 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 by means of every spherical of the playoffs, even getting eradicated at one level (earlier than a post-race technical infraction for Alex Bowman put him again in), finally reaching the Championship 4. As soon as there, the veteran driver dominated the race and picked up his third Cup Collection championship, beating teammate Ryan Blaney. And with out that straightforward spin from his different teammate [Cindric] in the summertime of that 12 months, none of this may have ever occurred.
That proper there may be why profitable is so necessary in trendy 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 way in which to the championship.
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