How Nashville 2024 changed the entire NASCAR Cup s...

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 consequential races of the 12 months.

Denny Hamlin was about half-a-lap away from taking the white flag and making certain he would win the Cup race at Nashville, with Ross Chastain a detailed second. Joey Logano, who was winless to date that season, ran 14th. 

However when Austin Cindric misplaced management whereas battling Noah Gragson for twenty first, it triggered one of the chaotic finishes of the 12 months. The unbelievable sequence occasions that adopted finally determined not simply the race winner, however who would turn out to be the 2024 NASCAR Cup Sequence champion … and bear in mind, Nashville wasn’t even a playoff race!

Time beyond regulation restart #1

Gas was tight and whereas some automobiles selected to pit throughout 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 taking pictures up the observe and taking out fellow Chevrolet driver Chastain. A handful of automobiles have been collected within the ensuing chaos. Hamlin was nonetheless answerable for the race whereas Logano now ran fourth. 

Time beyond regulation restart #2

There was a little bit of a stack-up on the entrance of the sector, however a wreck was averted as one automobile within the again slid by way of 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 sector and a number of other automobiles went spinning and crashing on the exit of Flip 2.

Time beyond regulation restart #3

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos

Gas was now an actual concern however nobody wished to surrender the observe place. Because the inexperienced flag flew, Larson’s automobile stalled out and the stack-up that adopted despatched Kyle Busch into the skin wall. He was working inside the highest 5 earlier than that and in addition trying to find his first win of the 12 months. The veteran driver climbed from his automobile and simply threw his fingers up in disappointment. 

Time beyond regulation restart #4

Logano was now working third to the Toyotas of Martin Truex Jr. and Hamlin, however neither wished to threat one other restart whereas working on fumes. Each Joe Gibbs Racing drivers pitted, giving the result in Logano. On the restart, Chase Elliott in sixth ran out of gas, 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.

Time beyond regulation restart #5

Joey Logano, Group Penske Ford

Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos

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

This fifth restart would (fortunately) be the final, as Logano bought an amazing 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. Nevertheless it was not fairly sufficient as Logano crossed the road and received 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 high 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 seemingly questioning why this chaotic end so necessary. Nicely, Logano was winless all through the whole common season, except 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 way of 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 straightforward spin from his different teammate [Cindric] in the summertime of that 12 months, none of this is able to have ever occurred.

That proper there’s why successful 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.