{"id":40825,"date":"2022-10-16T18:56:55","date_gmt":"2022-10-16T23:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=40825"},"modified":"2022-10-19T17:13:50","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T22:13:50","slug":"logano-captures-vegas-victory-claims-spot-in-championship-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2022\/10\/16\/logano-captures-vegas-victory-claims-spot-in-championship-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Logano captures Vegas victory; claims spot in Championship 4"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

Las Vegas, Nev. – Team Penske’s Joey Logano became the first driver to secure a position in the Championship 4 with a shot at the NASCAR Cup Series 2022 Championship thanks to a valiant surge to victory in the final laps of Sunday\u2019s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Logano, on fresh Goodyear tires, rallied back through the field following a late race pit stop, passing Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain for the lead with three laps remaining and driving off to his third win at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas high banks – a slight .817-second ahead of fellow Playoff driver Chastain, who led a race best 68 of the 267 laps on the afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go get a championship, baby,\u2019\u2019 the 2018 series champion Logano screamed into his team radio after taking the checkered flag in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.<\/p>\n

That pit stop for Logano with 26 laps remaining, dropped him from a top-10 position on track, but the fresh tires were the difference in making up ground on the leaders who did not pit.<\/p>\n

And Logano went forward quickly.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhat a great car, the Penske cars were all fast today,\u201d said the 32-year old Logano, who now has three wins in 2022 and 30 in his 15-year career in NASCAR\u2019s top series.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh man, all you want to do is get to the Championship 4 before the season starts and race for the championship and we\u2019ve got the team to do it. I don\u2019t see why we can\u2019t win it at this point. Things are looking really good for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of adversity we fought though in the last 50 laps of so. I thought we were going to win then kinda fell out, got some tires and racing Ross was fun. He did a good job air-blocking me and I was just trying to be patient but eventually I was like, \u2018I\u2019ve got to go here.\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It was a wild action-packed day at the Las Vegas oval with the eight Playoff drivers experiencing both sides of emotion. Five of them were among the 11 race leaders at various points on the afternoon.  And four finished in the top five.<\/p>\n

Joe Gibbs Racing driver and Las Vegas native Kyle Busch, who had some pit road issues, finished third, followed by a pair of Playoff drivers: Stewart-Haas Racing\u2019s Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing\u2019s Denny Hamlin, who rounded out the top five. It was an especially impressive performance for Hamlin, who started 31st.<\/p>\n

Hendrick Motorsports Playoff teammates William Byron and Chase Elliott had frustrating and disappointing days, finishing 13th and 21st, respectively. Logano\u2019s Penske teammate Ryan Blaney – who won Stage 2 and led 39 laps – finished 28th after hitting the wall late in the race. Joe Gibbs Racing\u2019s Christopher Bell was 34th after being innocently collected in an early-race accident.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhen you perform that poorly you get poor results, that\u2019s how it works,\u2019\u2019 the regular season champion Elliott said of his day.<\/p>\n

Elliott went into this three-race round leading the standings and after Vegas has dropped to third in the championship, 17 points above the cutoff line. Logano earned the automatic advancement Sunday and Chastain is now in second place, 18 points up.<\/p>\n

Hamlin\u2019s top five was good enough to move him into that important fourth place in the championship \u2013 six points up on Byron. The 4 \u201cBs\u201d are now all in the bottom half of the Playoff points. Briscoe is nine points behind Hamlin, Blaney 11 back and Bell is 23 points off the pace.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Tyler Reddick, driver of the #8 3Chi Chevrolet, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the most talked about incidents in the race involved a pair of non-championship-eligible drivers. Shortly after the re-start following Stage 1, Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Kyle Larson and 23XI Racing\u2019s Bubba Wallace \u2013 who won Stage 1 – were racing alongside one another toward the front of the field. On lap 94, Larson\u2019s No. 5 Chevy got loose and moved up the track, forcing Wallace\u2019s car into the outside wall.<\/p>\n

Wallace\u2019s No. 45 Toyota bounced down off the wall and then he drove into Larson\u2019s car, spinning both – with Playoff driver Bell getting tagged by Larson\u2019s spinning Chevy in the aftermath. After Wallace and Larson\u2019s cars came to rest in the infield, Wallace took his helmet off and marched toward Larson, who was just getting out of his car.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Tyler Reddick, driver of the #8 3Chi Chevrolet, and Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Autotrader Ford, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The two exchanged words and Wallace pushed Larson multiple times before walking away.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get shoved into the fence deliberately like he [Larson] did trying to force me to lift, the steering was gone,\u2019\u2019 Wallace said, when asked if he intentionally spun Larson. \u201cHe just happened to be there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHate it for our team. Super fast car. Larson wanted to make a three-wide dive bomb but never cleared me and I don\u2019t lift. I know I\u2019m kinda new running at the front, but I don\u2019t lift, was never in a spot to lift and he never lifted either. Now we\u2019re junk. Just piss poor move on his execution.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows what he did was wrong. He never cleared me and just hate it for my team.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

For his part, Larson said he realized he got into Wallace and wasn\u2019t entirely surprised by Wallace\u2019s aggression afterward. However, Larson said, he didn\u2019t hit Wallace intentionally.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, pits during the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI knew he was going to retaliate,\u2019\u2019 Larson said. \u201cHe had reason to be mad but his race wasn\u2019t over until he retaliated. It is what it is. Just aggression turned into frustration and he retaliated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know he\u2019s probably still upset but I\u2019m sure with everything going on he\u2019ll know he made a mistake in the retaliation part and I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll think twice about it next time,\u2019\u2019 Larson added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw him walking over [toward me] so I figured he\u2019d do something. He had every right to be upset and I\u2019d rather him do that [push me] than tear up our cars in a dangerous manner.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

While the incident ended Wallace and Larson\u2019s days, it also ruined the afternoon for Bell, who won an elimination race just last week to advance to the Round of 8. His Joe Gibbs Racing team was unable to repair his No. 20 Toyota and he pulled off track, finishing 34th in the 36-car field \u2013 worst among the eight Playoff drivers.<\/p>\n

Playoff action resumes next weekend with Sunday\u2019s Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (3 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). William Byron won the 2021 Homestead race, which was held in February last year<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Winning Team (No. 22 Team Penske Ford): Paul Wolfe (Crew Cheif), Michael Nelson (VP NASCAR Operations) and Joey Logano (driver) –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – 5th Annual South Point 400<\/strong><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Motor Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Las Vegas, Nevada<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, October 16, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    1. (5)  Joey Logano (P), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    2. (11)  Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    3. (18)  Kyle Busch, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                    4. (16)  Chase Briscoe (P), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    5. (31)  Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                    6. (1)  Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    7. (27)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                    8. (22)  Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    9. (21)  AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    10. (10)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    11. (17)  Noah Gragson(i), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    12. (13)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    13. (3)  William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    14. (28)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    15. (12)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    16. (6)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    17. (25)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    18. (23)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    19. (15)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    20. (24)  Cole Custer, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    21. (20)  Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    22. (19)  Ty Gibbs(i), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                    23. (29)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    24. (30)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                    25. (35)  Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                    26. (8)  Harrison Burton #, Ford, 266.<\/p>\n

                    27. (34)  Cody Ware, Ford, 264.<\/p>\n

                    28. (4)  Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 260.<\/p>\n

                    29. (2)  Austin Cindric #, Ford, 259.<\/p>\n

                    30. (36)  BJ McLeod(i), Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                    31. (26)  JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 253.<\/p>\n

                    32. (32)  Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 246.<\/p>\n

                    33. (33)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, Suspension, 237.<\/p>\n

                    34. (7)  Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, DVP, 94.<\/p>\n

                    35. (14)  Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 94.<\/p>\n

                    36. (9)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, Accident, 94.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  130.48 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 4 Mins, 10 Secs. Margin of Victory:  .817 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  8 for 42 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  18 among 11 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   T. Reddick 1;A. Cindric # 2;T. Reddick 3-33;A. Cindric # 34-40;R. Stenhouse Jr. 41;D. Suarez 42-56;B. Wallace 57-85;D. Suarez 86-96;R. Chastain (P) 97;D. Hamlin (P) 98-102;D. Suarez 103-107;R. Chastain (P) 108-128;R. Blaney (P) 129-167;J. Logano (P) 168-196;R. Chastain (P) 197-229;J. Haley 230-245;C. Briscoe (P) 246-251;R. Chastain (P) 252-264;J. Logano (P) 265-267.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Ross Chastain (P) 4 times for 68 laps; Ryan Blaney (P) 1 time for 39 laps; Joey Logano (P) 2 times for 32 laps; Tyler Reddick 2 times for 32 laps; Daniel Suarez 3 times for 31 laps; Bubba Wallace 1 time for 29 laps; Justin Haley 1 time for 16 laps; Austin Cindric # 2 times for 8 laps; Chase Briscoe (P) 1 time for 6 laps; Denny Hamlin (P) 1 time for 5 laps; Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 45,22,99,20,12,2,5,19,8,24<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 12,22,99,1,11,24,4,19,2,18<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service Las Vegas, Nev. – Team Penske’s Joey Logano became the first driver to secure a position in the Championship 4 with a shot at the NASCAR Cup Series 2022 Championship thanks to a valiant surge to victory in the final laps of Sunday\u2019s South Point 400 at Las […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":40828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[154,67,16],"class_list":["post-40825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-joey-logano","tag-las-vegas-motor-speedway","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/GettyImages-1433944805-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-aCt","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40825"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40841,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40825\/revisions\/40841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}