What a crazy way to conclude the day in Nashville!
After fending off Tyler Reddick and Zane Smith to win the Ally 400 in quintuple overtime on Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway, Joey Logano surprised everyone by winning. Logano ended a protracted losing streak that began in the spring of 2023.
Logano started from the inside of the front row with Chase Briscoe to his outside on the fifth overtime restart, which occurred on Lap 330. Briscoe ran out of gas after Logano got out to a strong start, which gave Smith and Reddick the opportunity to pursue Logano. However, the driver for Team Penske had just enough fuel left to complete two laps and cross the finish line, bringing the marathon race to a conclusion.
“You have to give a lot of credit to our fueler, Nick Hensley, our engine department with Roush Yates building obviously some engines that could also manage fuel really well, and some guts – a lot of cajones made it happen,” Logano stated.
There were a few laps remaining, and it looked like Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin would fight it out for the victory. However, a late yellow flag prompted overtime and set off a sequence of collisions that prolonged the extra time. The lead was up for grabs when Chastain crashed during the first overtime and Hamlin had to refuel after the third overtime.
Logano led the race for just nine laps before winning.
It was Logano’s first victory of the year and his first since winning at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 19, 2023, while driving his No. 22. After winning titles in 2018 and 2022, Logano’s victory will probably guarantee him a spot in the playoffs and an opportunity to capture his third NASCAR Cup Series championship.
“It’s been a difficult season, and I can assure you that it stinks to be on the playoff cut line. Simply put, it’s not enjoyable. You just want a small amount of pressure relief because it’s difficult,” Logano remarked. “To be honest with you, having seven weeks until the playoffs offers us a chance to take a breather, start working on our car in a different way, and just get better sleep. Of course, I’m proud to be in victory lane and proud of this squad.
On Sunday, June 30, 2024, driver Joey Logano of the NASCAR Cup Series celebrates winning the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Nashville NASCAR Cup race: top ten place finishers
The top ten finishers from Sunday’s Ally 400 at NASCAR Superspeedway are as follows:
Joey Logano of Team Penske Ford, number 22
Zane Smith, Chevrolet Spire Motorsports No. 71
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, No. 45
No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford driven by Ryan Preece
Chris Buescher, Ford Racing’s No. 17 RFK
Ryan Blaney, Team Peske Ford No. 12
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, No. 23
No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet’s Kyle Larson
No. 31 Daniel Hemric Chevrolet Kaulig Racing
Stewart-Haas Racing Ford No. 10 driver Noah Gragson
Zane Smith finishes first in the NASCAR Cup Series, a career high.
In the Nashville Superspeedway Ally 400’s fifth overtime, Zane Smith came within a hair’s breadth of Joey Logano as he approached the checkered flag, but he still finished second. Smith drove the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, and it was his best Cup Series result to date.
Although Smith expressed his frustration at coming in second, he was “obviously so happy with the result.”
“When you hear for like 10 laps that ‘(Logano) is supposed to run out, he is supposed to run out’, and then you see him shaking the car across the line and you just finished second, that hurts,” Smith stated. “It hurts to win, but try to be grateful for everyone at Spire Motorsports and their approach.
“This is a fantastic confidence and momentum booster—all of the above—after a very difficult year. I hope we can continue this, but it was amazing to experience your first Cup victory.
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