Race day began simply after 7pm, native time, with Ryan Blaney pacing the sphere from pole place. Then we spent over three hours ready out the climate mid-race, with Blaney nonetheless in management. Lastly, simply earlier than 2am, Blaney claimed the checkered flag within the marathon race and proceeded to trip his newly received bike across the monitor.
And whereas Blaney’s title dominated the pylon, this race was removed from predictable, with nonstop motion and loads of drama across the monitor some prefer to name Atlanta-Dega as of late. Surprisingly although, there wasn’t a lot carnage as drivers expertly battled round each other for a number of hours.
Here is a take a look at the largest winners and losers from a really late-night race at EchoPark Speedway:
WINNER: A dominant Blaney and a formidable Group Penske
Watch: Blaney prevails with EchoPark win in wild OT
Ryan Blaney did not simply win at Atlanta, he dominated. The No. 12 Group Penske Ford led 171 of 263 laps — essentially the most at any drafting monitor since Richard Petty’s 1964 Daytona 500 win. It was additionally the 750th win for Ford, however Penske’s good day did not finish with Blaney. Teammate Joey Logano scored a high ten end and was high 5 in each phases, whereas Austin Cindric earned a high 15 end whereas additionally securing high fives in each phases. It was an enormous factors night time for all three vehicles, and significant for Cindric and Logano as they’re proper in the course of the battle to make the Chase.
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LOSER: Bubba Wallace crosses the road second, however loses all of it
Watch: Wallace questions penalty, addresses Gibbs run-in
What a irritating night time for the 23XI Racing driver. On the finish of Stage 2, he spun from inside the highest 5, denying him any Stage 2 factors. However on the finish of the race, he had a respectable shot on the win, and battled three-wide to the road, ending a detailed second. Sadly, NASCAR decided that he superior his place by going under the yellow line, penalizing him. Wallace was despatched to the tail of the lead lap, ending twenty ninth. “Simply one other race for Bubba Wallace and firm,” he stated post-race. Wallace additionally had a difficulty with Toyota ‘teammwork’ and the truth that Ty Gibbs did not lower him a break on the finish of Stage 2 when he was despatched spinning. Only a night time to overlook for the No. 23, regardless of spending most of it on the entrance of the sphere…
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Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
Fifth for Jones and sixth for SVG was enormous for them on Sunday night time. Whereas it would not appear to be they gained quite a lot of floor within the Chase, these spectacular runs prevented them from falling far behind towards the Penske duo of Cindric and Logano. Van Gisbergen is now +31, and Jones retains himself from getting booted again under the cut-line. SVG later advised Motorsport.com that “nothing” in his profession ready him for this fashion of racing, and we’re speaking a couple of driver that has raced on no fewer than 4 continents in his life. That makes it much more spectacular while you understand he walked away from Atlanta 2026 with a pair of sixth-place finishes.
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LOSER: Kyle Larson makes a mistake, derailing late-race cost
Kyle Larson spins, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
Larson spun late within the race after an enormous check-up within the high line, however that wasn’t the tip of his hopes, nor was it his fault. Larson made a valiant cost by the pack, passing nearly twenty vehicles earlier than he reached Denny Hamlin. Sadly, Larson moved up on the exit of Flip 2 when he wasn’t clear, squeezing Hamlin and placing himself within the wall. It was the one main multi-car crash of the race, dropping Larson to thirty fourth for the second consecutive race.
WINNER: Todd Gilliland advances into semi-finals of In-Season Problem
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet; Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photographs
The underdog story lives on! No. 25 seed within the In-Season Problem superior into the semi-finals of the bracket match, with rival Alex Bowman glued to his bumper throughout the end line. Gilliland now stands amongst true titans now, going through 2020 Cup champion Chase Elliott at North Wilkesboro. On the opposite facet of the bracket, Christopher Bell will face off towards Blaney. To place this all into perspective, Elliott has extra profession race wins than Gilliland has high tens, so what a narrative it could be if the Entrance Row Motorsports driver can go all the best way and safe that $1 million prize.
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LOSER: AJ Allmendinger as the largest loser within the standings
A.J. Allmendinger spins, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
Allmendinger has been doing so much with somewhat this yr, as Chevrolet has lower off Kaulig Racing because of their association with Ram within the Truck Sequence. Regardless of that, Allmendinger is inside hanging distance of a Chase spot, and a drafting monitor was an amazing alternative to degree the enjoying area. Nevertheless, that is not what ended up occurring in the long run. A mistake whereas battling Michael McDowell despatched Allmendinger spinning. He was dejected on the radio, and shortly after, a blown tire despatched him careening into the wall. He scored only one level after ending thirty seventh, and was the largest loser within the championship standings, dropping three positions.
WINNER: Carson Hocevar, regardless that he had no buddies on the finish
Watch: Hocevar jokes he might have earned respect at EchoPark
Hocevar has totally embraced an ‘IDGAF’ perspective, as displayed in latest interviews. If there was ever any sugar-coating earlier than, it is gone now. He desires to be beloved by the followers, and would not care if he is hated by the drivers. He even bragged about ignoring the recommendation of his crew proprietor mid-race throughout the rain delay, however hey, no matter he is doing on monitor continues to work for him. Hocevar sliced by the sphere with ease on multiple event, and was main in additional time. Whereas circulating below warning within the remaining moments of the race, he really began to sing over the radio and snort with the crew. The one draw back for him is that Atlanta is a spot the place you are going to want a pleasant push if you wish to win, and he had no buddies as he was flanked by the duos of Blaney/Bell and Wallace/Gibbs. However he stored it clear, by no means wrecked anybody, and walked away with a third-place end. He did not get the race win, however he has so much to smile about after Atlanta.
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LOSER: Those that sadly could not stick round till 2am
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Group Penske Ford
Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photographs
Asking folks to remain up till 2am on Sunday night time is a tough job, and I really feel for these each on the monitor and at house who did not get to witness this race dwell. It was sensational, with the late-hour including to the insane grip and making for nonstop motion. Stage 1 and Stage 3 seemed like utterly completely different races with the best way the monitor drove. Whereas I applaud NASCAR for sticking with it and ending it below the lights, perhaps extra folks would really feel inclined to stay round if this unlucky delay unfolded on a Saturday night time, as an alternative of Sunday…only a thought.
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