Joey Logano Secures Overtime Victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Joey Logano clinched a thrilling win in the NASCAR playoffs opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway, securing a spot in the next round. The race ended in overtime, marking the 11th such occurrence this season. Logan aims to become the only active three-time Cup Series champion.

Joey Logano raced to victory in the NASCAR playoffs opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway, earning an automatic berth into the next round. The race concluded in dramatic fashion in overtime, a tie for the 2017 season record with 11 overtime finishes.

Logano, the only two-time Cup Series champion in the 16-driver playoff field, is striving to become the only active three-time champion. "That's how we start the playoffs, boys!" exclaimed Logano. Ryan Blaney, his Team Penske and Ford teammate, finished second, helping Logano secure the win by giving him critical pushes to outpace Daniel Suarez.

Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, and regular-season champion Tyler Reddick rounded out the top six, while Kyle Busch couldn't make it into the playoffs. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson's crash took him out of the race, much to his dismay. Fortunately, neither Larson nor Chase Briscoe, who also suffered from the collision, faced significant injuries. Both drivers expressed relief over their safety, highlighting the unpredictable nature of NASCAR racing.

(With inputs from agencies.)