NASCAR Weekend Recap (Atlanta Motor Speedway)

Winners: Joey Logano (Cup) and Austin Hill (Xfinity)

NASCAR Cup

Joey Logano Wins Playoff Opener at Atlanta

Joey Logano and crew celebrate in Victory Lane  after winning the NASCAR
Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

With a strong last-lap push from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano rocketed into the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with an overtime victory in Sunday‘s Quaker State 400 available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

In a two-lap shootout that sent the first playoff race of the 2024 season six laps past the posted distance of 260 laps, Logano had the lead by more than a car-length when NASCAR called a caution on the final circuit for a mid-pack wreck behind the leader.

 

The victory was Logano‘s second at Atlanta, his second of the season and the 34th of his career. The driver of the No. 22 Ford vaulted to fifth in the playoff standings, but the win guaranteed him a spot in the next round.

 

“They just give me really fast cars on superspeedways, and we always find ourselves towards the front of them, (but) we just end up wrecking more times than not,” said Logano, who led twice for nine laps, a far cry from teammate Austin Cindric‘s race-high 92.

 

“So, to be able to finally capitalize on a fast race car and win here in Atlanta again, I lived right over there in condo 805 for a long time (as a child racing Legend Cars), waking up dreaming of just racing on this race track.

 

“So, pulling into Victory Lane here is always a special one. We had such a really good team here today. It‘s awesome to get (sponsor) Autotrader into Victory Lane, and the JL Kids Crew (one of Logano‘s charitable enterprises) are here today, so it‘s really cool to finally win with them here.”

 

HE’S THROUGH TO THE ROUND OF 12!@joeylogano wins the #NASCARPlayoffs opener at @ATLMotorSpdwy! pic.twitter.com/GZymH1NH51

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 8, 2024

Pole: Michael McDowell

Click Here for Race Results  

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday September 15, 2024 at 3:00 pm ET for the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. 

NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Wins Wild Xfinity Series Race at Atlanta for Season Sweep

Austin Hill celebrates with RCR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer,
Richard Childress in Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

Austin Hill defended stout charges late from numerous competitors to score the NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday.

 

Hill, winner of the series’ February visit to the 1.5-mile drafting-style track, was victorious by 0.34 seconds over Parker Kligerman, AJ Allmendinger, Chandler Smith and Corey Heim, who completed the top five.

 

“I‘m speechless right now,” Hill said in Victory Lane. “Our Bennett Chevrolet had speed all day, but the handling just was not there the way that I would like. You come to these superspeedway-style events, and you want to have a car that‘s trimmed out. You don‘t worry too much about handling.”

 

“But I thought handling was going to be an issue, and it definitely played a part today. We made some right moves at the right time between my spotter, Derek Kneeland, and me. We got up to second and when we had that restart (on Lap 150), I was contemplating ‘Do I go top, or do I go bottom? ”

 

“We both agreed that we have to go bottom and try to get to the lead, and if the bottom didn‘t work out, then so be it.”

 

The hometown kid does it again!@_AustinHill gets his fourth win at @ATLMotorSpdwy! pic.twitter.com/rPudq5u3e4

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 7, 2024

Pole:  Jesse Love

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday September 14, 3:00 pm ET for the Mission 200 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International.

 

NASCAR Trucks

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Off Week

Good thing there aren't beige flags in NASCAR... 😅 pic.twitter.com/HPYsTFNEhS

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 28, 2024

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Thursday September 19, 2024 8:00 pm ET for the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

ARCA

ARCA Truck Series – Off Week

Putting his dirt skills to good use, @BrentCrews11 ripped the top on the opening lap to take the lead at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, a move that has been selected as the @reeses Sweet Move of the Race! pic.twitter.com/0F29K5fntq

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) September 3, 2024

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 5:23 p.m.ET for the General Tire 100 at Glen at Watkins Glen International.

 

source: NASCAR Media