Joey Logano executed a flawless fuel strategy to clinch victory in the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, earning the first of four NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 spots. The two-time Cup Series champion led only the final six laps but managed to hold off Christopher Bell, who dominated the race, by a margin of 0.662 seconds.
Bell, driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, led a race-high 155 of 267 laps and secured a Stage 2 win. However, Bell’s late pit stop, 35 laps after Logano’s, left him with a significant 30-second gap to overcome, and he couldn’t close it in time to catch the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.
Logano, who thought he was eliminated from the Playoffs last week after the Charlotte Roval race, was reinstated when Alex Bowman’s car failed post-race inspection. This victory at Las Vegas now catapults Logano into the Championship 4, continuing his pursuit of a third Cup title.
“Man, we did some fuel mileage stuff, didn’t we? Holy crap,” a smiling Logano said. “We weren’t the fastest car, but we were a solid top-five car, and we maximized it at the end.”
Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez, who followed a similar fuel strategy as Logano, finished third after leading 57 laps. Playoff contender William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports took fourth, with his teammate Alex Bowman rounding out the top five.
Bell’s Heartbreak
Christopher Bell was clearly disappointed after leading much of the race only to finish second. Despite his dominant performance, Bell remains winless after starting a race from pole position 13 times.
“I think everyone on this team did everything perfect today,” Bell lamented. “This thing was obviously on rails, pit crew did an amazing job, and Adam (crew chief) called a great race. But it wasn’t meant to be today.”
While Bell remains the points leader, his inability to secure a victory leaves him without the automatic berth in the Championship 4 that Logano now enjoys.
Playoff Implications
The race had major repercussions for several Playoff drivers. Tyler Reddick, who started on the front row, was eliminated after a rollover crash on lap 90 in a multi-car wreck that also took out fellow Playoff drivers Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney. Reddick finished 35th, while Elliott and Blaney ended up 33rd and 32nd, respectively.
Reddick remains optimistic despite the setback: “We can still have a good day at Homestead and be in the mix in Martinsville. It would’ve been nice to win today, but we’re not out of it yet.”
Blaney’s weekend was rough from the start after a flat tire in practice forced him into a backup car, leading to a start from the back of the field. His crash in the multi-car incident compounded his woes, leaving him in a deep hole heading into the final two races of the Round of 8.
Denny Hamlin, who had a difficult day with pit stops, finished eighth after following a similar fuel strategy to Logano. Despite the challenges, Hamlin remains fifth in the standings, just 27 points off the cutoff for the Championship 4.
The Road Ahead
With Logano’s victory securing his spot in the Championship 4, the remaining drivers in the Playoffs have two more races—at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville Speedway—to claim their places in the final four.
Hendrick’s Kyle Larson, who won at Las Vegas in the spring, finished 11th and sits second in the standings, 35 points above the cutoff. His teammate William Byron holds the crucial fourth spot, 27 points clear of Hamlin. Reddick, Blaney, and Elliott are all below the cutoff, with Reddick 30 points behind and Elliott trailing by 53 points.
The next race, the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will be critical as Playoff drivers battle for the remaining Championship 4 spots. Christopher Bell, last year’s winner at Homestead, will look to capitalize on his strong form and secure his place in the season finale.
The stakes are higher than ever, and with two races left, the intensity is set to escalate as drivers fight for their shot at the championship.
