Written by Sean McKean
Despite the odds being stacked against the two-time champion, it was Joey Logano who saved the most fuel to take victory in Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was Logano’s third win of the season.
As it unfolded
From pole, Christopher Bell led the way and remained mostly unchallenged for the opening stint.
Green flag pit stops began on Lap 35. Once all cycled out, Bell kept the lead.
The first caution came out on Lap 64. Going into Turn 3, Austin Dillon received a tap from Daniel Hemric, sending the RCR driver head-on into the outside wall. He walked away unscathed but retired from the race.
Pit stops went without issue for the main contenders. However, Erik Jones had to come back into the pit lane to resecure his front-right tyre.
Martin Truex Jr. led the way on the restart – having stayed out. Tyler Reddick, though, was quick to make his move for the lead with only six laps to go in the stage.
Reddick hung on to win stage two followed by Bell and Truex.
Stage 1 Results:
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick [Playoffs]
No. 20 - Christopher Bell [Playoffs]
No. 19 - Martin Truex Jr.
No. 24 - William Byron [Playoffs]
No. 6 - Brad Keselowski
No. 54 - Ty Gibbs
No. 17 - Chris Buescher
No. 22 - Joey Logano [Playoffs]
No. 2 - Austin Cindric
No. 5 - Kyle Larson [Playoffs]
Under caution, Kyle Larson had to come back into the pits. The No. 5 team suspected that a piece of aluminum from Denny Hamlin’s nose punctured a hole into the nose. After taping it up, they rejoined at the tail-end of the field.
Denny Hamlin led the way on Lap 88 as the only driver to stay out. Hamlin quickly fell to those who took two tyres, specifically JGR teammate Ty Gibbs.
One lap later, however, a big crash occurred. After a squeeze from Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick hit the wall out of Turn 4 and spun into the infield. Then, Reddick’s car caught air in the transition from grass to asphalt – sending him into a flip. Reddick retired from the race, but Elliott continued – albeit, heavily damaged. Austin Cindric and Brad Keselowski also sustained damage.
After the crash, Ryan Blaney went for a spin in an unrelated incident and tapped the wall. The contact broke the toe-link – putting him back into the pits.
Gibbs led the way on Lap 97.
Ten laps later, Elliott came into the garage to retire the car. During this, Bell got by his teammate to take the lead for the first time in the second stage.
Green flag pit stops began with Denny Hamlin on Lap 119. Aside from a slow stop and loose wheels for Larson, issues plagued few teams. Bell kept the lead.
Bell remained ahead to win the second stage. He was followed by teammate Truex and William Byron.
Stage 2 Results:
No. 20 - Christopher Bell [Playoffs]
No. 19 - Martin Truex Jr.
No. 24 - William Byron [Playoffs]
No. 17 - Chris Buescher
No. 22 - Joey Logano [Playoffs]
No. 48 - Alex Bowman
No. 7 - Justin Haley
No. 99 - Daniel Suarez
No. 23 - Bubba Wallace
No. 41 - Ryan Preece
Denny Hamlin again suffered issues, with another slow stop sending the No. 11 team to the back of the field.
The dominant Bell led again to begin the final stage on Lap 173.
Roughly 20 laps later, the top-ten-running Ty Gibbs went for a spin on the exit of Turn 2. He kept it off the wall, but the caution came out.
Bell restarted in the lead and led the next ten laps, but with the fuel window being so close, he began backing off to save fuel.
The final round of green flag stops began on Lap 228. No major issues unfolded, and Bell would remain leader once everything cycled out.
However, Daniel Suarez inherited the lead followed by Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, and they planned to go all the way to the end. Subsequently, Bell would need to push to catch the top three.
By ten-to-go, Bell got through teammate Hamlin. At the same time, Logano increased his pace to give pressure to leader Suarez. Logano got through into the lead with five laps remaining.
Against all odds and pressure from Bell, Joey Logano stretched the fuel to take victory at Las Vegas. It was his third victory at the track.
Provisional Results:
No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 19 - Martin Truex Jr (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 17 - Chris Buescher (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing)
No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)
No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 51 - Corey Lajoie (Rick Ware Racing)
No. 21 - Harrison Burton (Wood Brothers Racing)
No. 71 - Zane Smith (Spire Motorsports)
No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)
No. 10 - Noah Gragson (Stewart-Haas Racing)
No. 31 - Daniel Hemric (Kaulig Racing)
No. 34 - Michael McDowell (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 15 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing)
No. 41 - Ryan Preece (Stewart-Haas Racing) +1 lap
No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap
No. 4 - Josh Berry (Stewart-Haas Racing) +1 lap
No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club) +1 lap
No. 14 - Chase Briscoe (Stewart-Haas Racing) +1 lap
No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr (JTG-Daugherty Racing) +1 lap
No. 84 - Jimmie Johnson (Legacy Motor Club) +2 laps
No. 16 - Shane van Gisbergen (Kaulig Racing) +2 laps
No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) +3 laps
No. 38 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports) +4 laps
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs] +8 laps
No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs] +37 laps
No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske) [DNF]
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) [Playoffs] [DNF]
No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing) [DNF]
No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing) [DNF]
After the Logano win and multiple poor days for playoff drivers, the grid is as follows:
Provisional Playoff Standings:
No. 22 - Joey Logano: [WIN]
No. 20 - Christopher Bell: +42
No. 5 - Kyle Larson: +35
No. 24 - William Byron: +27
Playoff Cut Line
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin: -27
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick: -30
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney: -47
No. 9 - Chase Elliott: -53
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