Joey Logano wrecks on restart after winning Stage 1 at Pocono Raceway

Just after taking the Stage 1 win at Pocono, Joey Logano found himself spinning out and wrecking to start Stage 2. This wreck also collected Daniel Suárez, a NASCAR playoff bubble driver that really needs points. Logano lost it coming into the first turn and it was over after that.

While Joey Logano wiped out, he didn’t take the worst of this incident. As the field spread out to avoid hitting the 22, Bubba Wallace got into Suárez’s right rear quarter panel and sent the 99 into the wall.

Pocono Raceway is already getting tricky for these drivers. As we get more restarts today, we will see more chaos unfold. Playoff hopes on the line, which drivers are going to full-send it today in the mountains?

Trouble in Turn 1! 🟡@joeylogano and @Daniel_SuarezG are involved! pic.twitter.com/cJr4MMDtx3

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 23, 2023

Both Joey Logano and Daniel Suárez went to pit road to get repairs. The Trackhouse Racing team doesn’t know if they can get things repaired. With oil and water leaking in the pit stall, his team put the car in the garage. Meanwhile, the 22 team was trying to beat the Damaged Vehicle Policy clock of 7 minutes to get that Ford Mustang moving again.

Suárez was just one point off the cutline coming into the playoffs today. He was sitting 17th overall. Now, he’s going to lose points to drivers like Bubba Wallace and Michael McDowell who were already in front of him. AJ Allmendinger behind him will pick up points as well. Allmendinger, McDowell, and Wallace were 5th, 6th, and 7th in Stage 1.

After making some caution laps, Joey Logano brought it in for a DNF.

Joey Logano not happy with NASCAR tow policy

Apparently, one big issue with Joey Logano’s wreck, according to him, was the tow truck. Logano had four flats and needed a tow to pit road. By the time he was drug two miles around to pit road, the tire had torn up his car and left his team with more work.

I don’t want to say that he would have been able to continue if it wasn’t for that wheel on the tow truck, but you have to wonder. Logano sure seems to believe he was done dirty somehow. Since he is locked into the playoffs, it isn’t as big of a deal as it was for Daniel Suárez, who will fall about a race’s worth of points behind the playoff bubble.

Pocono Raceway has proven to be just as challenging as ever. Teams are on different strategies, they are doing different tire and fuel stops. All of it makes for a confusing race if you aren’t paying attention.

However, the race will unfold one way or another as the laps wind down. Once we get to the final stage, it will be a mad dash for the line and all those playoff points up for grabs.