NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Playoffs begin in Atlanta
The first race of the 2024 NASCAR Playoffs has come and gone. Heavy favorites faltered and a few underdogs had solid points days. Of course, Joey Logano was the big winner on Sunday, but what does that mean for the next two races?
Having Atlanta open up the NASCAR Playoffs was risky. It could have been a caution-filled mess of a race. The track is fast and narrow and produces a lot of great racing. For the most part, the Cup Series field kept it together.
Of course, being the playoffs and being Atlanta, a few drivers found themselves on the wrong side of a couple of wrecks. It had a big impact on the points standings heading into Watkins Glen.
23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports refuse to sign
The weekend began with news that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports had refused to sign the charter agreement NASCAR offered last week. All the other teams signed the agreement.
Now, things are kind of up in the air. However, there was a lot of chatter and more that went along with this controversy.
Brad Keselowski pushes back against 23XI narrative
The narrative arose that NASCAR more or less forced teams to sign the charter agreement. It was confirmed that they gave teams only hours to read a 105-page document before a deadline of midnight last Friday.
Brad Keselowski felt that was too strong of a term, “forced.” RFK Racing did sign the agreement and Keselowski says he respects 23XI and FRM for their decision.
Jesse Love picks up Xfinity Series pole
Meanwhile, back on the track, the Xfinity Series was ripping out qualifying laps. No practice at Atlanta or any superspeedways this season.
Jesse Love picked up another pole award. It is his fourth pole of the season and another feather in his cap during this rookie campaign.
Denny Hamlin off to a bad start
During Cup Series qualifying, the Toyotas were not as quick as the Fords and Chevys. Ford dominated the qualifying session, in fact.
Denny Hamlin fired off slowly and it appeared to be an engine issue. So, Hamlin had to start dead last on Sunday as he brought in a terrible qualifying lap. It ended up being a loose plug wire.
Michael McDowell makes history
This was a big weekend for pole leaders. In the Cup Series, Michael McDowell found himself leading the field to green for the fifth time this season.
McDowell is the first driver to win four straight drafting-track pole awards in a row since Bill Elliott in 1985-86. That was before restrictor plate racing was put in place at Daytona and Talladega.
Austin Hill survives chaos, wins again in Atlanta
In the Xfinity Series, we had a few incidents. Sam Mayer caught on fire after hitting the wall. Justin Allgaier wrecked from the front of the field.
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In the end, it all played into Austin Hill’s favor. Once again, he wins at a drafting track and once again at Atlanta. He has won four of six Xfinity races at the new Atlanta.
Curtis Polk talks about ‘predatory practices’
Now back to the 23XI Racing drama. NASCAR is going to be in for a heck of a ride in the coming months.
Curtis Polk, team co-owner, had prepared statements and notes ready with him. The language was rather intense as well. This could be headed for a legal battle.
Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe out in Stage 1
Everyone expected chaos at Atlanta, but for the Cup Series, there wasn’t much of that kind of action. However, there was a fair share if you’re Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe.
Larson shot up into the wall after his car snapped to the right. Briscoe then drove through the rear end of the No. 5 car. DNFs and big hits in the points to both.
Walmart gets TV time
Towards the end of the Quaker State 400, Walmart had its time to shine. A sign fell onto the track and caused an extended caution flag.
Just to get it out of the way, officials also took down another banner ad that they felt could also fall onto the track. It was the most interesting caution of the day, or maybe peculiar is a better word.
Joey Logano wins as cars wreck racing to the line
Another overtime restart and Joey Logano walks away with the win in Atlanta. He has now won at the new Atlanta twice, showing he has a knack for this reconfigured racetrack.
As Logano came to the checkered flag, the field wrecked behind him. Denny Hamlin played it conservatively all day and still ended up in the last lap wreck. He’s only two points above the cutline.