What happened?
Joey Logano ran down Ross Chastain and passed him with only three laps to go en route to winning the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and punching his ticket into the Championship 4 on Oct. 16. Kyle Busch finished third with Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin in tow.
The victory marks Logano’s third win at Las Vegas and also will mark his fifth career appearance in the Cup Series Championship 4.
How did it happen?
In a series of late race restarts, the lead shuffled over a number of drivers in the last 60 laps of the race.
At first, a pit call, or lack thereof, by Kaulig Racing put full-time driver Justin Haley in the front of the field. The No. 31 restarted in the lead on lap 230 and was even able to keep it for 15 laps.
Then, it was Round of 8 underdog Briscoe’s turn. The playoff dark horse was able to clear the Kaulig Chevrolet and take the lead after the next restart on lap 246. For a minute, it really appeared that Briscoe may have a legitimate chance at shocking everyone and punching his ticket into the Championship 4 before anyone else.
But another caution dashed those hopes, as Chastain, who had not won a race since Talladega Superspeedway in April, was able to swing to the bottom of the dueling Briscoe and Haley and take the lead.
ROSS CHASTAIN TO THE LEAD!
Will he secure that Championship 4 spot? #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/WhPoaAvYUK
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 16, 2022
With a win and a shot at the title in sight, Chastain watched as the field behind him got smaller. He was able to increase his lead to a second over everyone else.
But with 10 laps to go, a yellow smudge in Chastain’s mirror broke away from the rest of them and only got bigger and bigger.
Logano, who was in ninth on the final restart with 16 laps to go, used his fresh tires to his advantage to run down the No. 1 Chevrolet. However, the Team Penske driver would have to wrestle the Trackhouse Racing Team driver for the win.
Chastain stole Logano’s high line and stalled the No. 22’s momentum. Logano lost ground momentarily before diving to the bottom of the Chevrolet and taking the lead with less than three laps to go.
From then on, Logano sailed away to win big in Vegas with the jackpot being a chance at another Cup Series title.
RETWEET to congratulate @joeylogano for WINNING at @LVMotorSpeedway!
Here’s his winning move to secure a Championship 4 spot. #NASCARPlayoffs
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