How Nashville 2024 modified all the NASCAR Cup season

In 2024, the Nashville race weekend was the nineteenth race of the season, and when NASCAR took on ‘Music Metropolis,’ it ended up being one of the crucial consequential races of the yr.

Denny Hamlin was about half-a-lap away from taking the white flag and guaranteeing he would win the Cup race at Nashville, with Ross Chastain an in depth second. Joey Logano, who was winless up to now that season, ran 14th. 

However when Austin Cindric misplaced management whereas battling Noah Gragson for twenty first, it triggered one of the crucial chaotic finishes of the yr. The unbelievable sequence occasions that adopted finally determined not simply the race winner, however who would change into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Sequence champion … and bear in mind, Nashville wasn’t even a playoff race!

Additional time restart #1

Gasoline was tight and whereas some vehicles selected to pit in the course of the first yellow, the leaders gambled and stayed out for the two-lap sprint. Kyle Larson tried to maneuver Hamlin for the race lead, however missed and hit the apron earlier than capturing up the observe and taking out fellow Chevrolet driver Chastain. A handful of vehicles have been collected within the ensuing chaos. Hamlin was nonetheless answerable for the race whereas Logano now ran fourth. 

Additional time restart #2

There was a little bit of a stack-up on the entrance of the sphere, however a wreck was averted as one automotive within the again slid by the grass. Hamlin escaped with the lead once more, just for one other wreck to interrupt out mid-pack.  Harrison Burton bobbled in the course of the sphere and several other vehicles went spinning and crashing on the exit of Flip 2.

Additional time restart #3

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos

Gasoline was now an actual concern however nobody wished to surrender the observe place. Because the inexperienced flag flew, Larson’s automotive stalled out and the stack-up that adopted despatched Kyle Busch into the surface wall. He was operating inside the highest 5 earlier than that and in addition looking for his first win of the yr. The veteran driver climbed from his automotive and simply threw his arms up in disappointment. 

Additional time restart #4

Logano was now operating third to the Toyotas of Martin Truex Jr. and Hamlin, however neither wished to danger one other restart whereas operating on fumes. Each Joe Gibbs Racing drivers pitted, giving the result in Logano. On the restart, Chase Elliott in sixth ran out of gasoline, simply as his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Larson did on the restart prior, Fortunately, everybody averted him this time round. Chase Briscoe nosed forward within the battle for the win, taking the lead from Logano for a second earlier than he snatched it again on the exit of Flip 4.

With the white flag flying, he was able to lastly declare vict… — and we had one other warning.Josh Berry had wrecked and was stopped within the infield.

Additional time restart #5

Joey Logano, Staff Penske Ford

Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos

Nashville 2024 nonetheless stands as essentially the most additional time restarts in NASCAR Cup Sequence historical past.

This fifth restart would (fortunately) be the final, as Logano bought an awesome pull, with some distinctive names behind him, but it surely was Tyler Reddick (who had pitted) that was going to be the actual menace. He surged as much as second and was throughout Logano, however the Penske driver blocked him excessive. This allowed Zane Smith to have clear air on the underside and the rookie driver practically pulled off a surprising upset as he snatched second away and practically reached Logano’s again bumper. But it surely was not fairly sufficient as Logano crossed the road and gained the race, lastly ending the occasion.

The highest ten when the primary warning flew for Cindric was as follows: Hamlin, Chastain, Larson, Busch, Gibbs, Wallace, Truex, Reddick, Buescher, Haley.

On the checkered flag, this was the brand new prime ten: Logano, Smith, Reddick, Preece, Buescher, Blaney, Wallace, Larson, Hemric, Gragson.

The occasion ran 31 laps past the scheduled distance.

Why this race mattered a lot

Except you watch NASCAR each week, you are possible questioning why this chaotic end so necessary. Nicely, Logano was winless all through all the common season, excluding this one race. With out that single victory, he would not have made the playoffs in any respect.

And as destiny would have it, Logano marched by every spherical of the playoffs, even getting eradicated at one level (earlier than a post-race technical infraction for Alex Bowman put him again in), finally reaching the Championship 4. As soon as there, the veteran driver dominated the race and picked up his third Cup Sequence championship, beating teammate Ryan Blaney. And with out that easy spin from his different teammate [Cindric] in the summertime of that yr, none of this may have ever occurred.

That proper there’s why profitable is so necessary in fashionable NASCAR. One loopy race opened the door for Logano, who had a mean end of 17.1, and he used that chance to launch himself all the best way to the championship.