Joey Logano led the final 44 laps of Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway to hold off an aggressive Kevin Harvick to the checkered flag. The Victory secures Logano’s a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Elite 4 at Phoenix on Nov. 8.
KANSAS CITY – October 18, 2020 – ANTHONY HOLBROOK
The NASCAR Cup Playoff Series traveled Sunday to Kansas City for the Hollywood Casino 400 hosted by the Kansas Speedway. The high aerodynamic downforce and limited horsepower rules package utilized on intermediate tracks, such as Kansas Speedway, are designed to keep cars closer together especially when weather plummets below 50 degrees. Cooler temperature and down force package factored tighter racing venue for limited spectators viewing pleasure.
Hollywood Casino 400 – Stage 1 recap:
Chase Elliott, who started in the pole position, maintained his lead taking control of the first 20 laps.
Kevin Harvick showing signs of speed drove his Ford to the front with 47 circuits remain in Stage 1.
Early race leader Chase Elliott’s radio communication would pay dividends as Elliott’s team attempt repair under green.
The pole sitter would finish the same position in Stage 1 for which he started, gaining 10 playoff points for Stage 1 win.
Hollywood Casino 400 – Stage 1 Results:
- Chase Elliott
- Brad Keselowski
- Denny Hamlin
- Ryan Blaney
- Erik Jones
- Alex Bowman
- Kevin Harvick
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Joey Logano
- Kyle Busch
Hollywood Casino 400 – Stage 2 recap:
Chase Elliott reports continued radio communication problems. This Issue had no baring in Elliott’s Stage 1 finishing position, but starting to cause some controversy with NASCAR officials, with no spotter/driver communication.
Denny Hamlin takes advantage and the lead by capitalizing with clean air factor. Kevin Harvick fights back to battle for the checkers only to run out of real-estate before the conclusion of Stage 2. Denny Hamlin is credited with Stage 1 win.
Hollywood Casino 400 – Stage 2 Results:
- Denny Hamlin
- Kevin Harvick
- Ryan Blaney
- Alex Bowman
- Chase Elliott
- Brad Keselowski
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kurt Bush
- Clint Bowyer
Hollywood Casino 400 – Final Stage Results:
Denny Hamlin, seeking his first career championship, led 58 laps before running into trouble early in the final deciding stage. While running fifth, Hamlin tagged the outside wall and had to pit for new tires. Denny Hamlin fell off the lead lap in result of unscheduled pit stop.
Logano took control of the lead on the race’s final restart by winning the race off pit road fiafter taking two tires. Harvick opted for routine four fresh tire change within the same pit stop.
NASCAR Cup Champion Joey Logano’s expedite pit stop under 50 laps to go, allowed the opportunity for Logano to guard the lead from his rear view mirror, holding off Kevin Harvick to win the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Relevant that Kevin Harvick unloaded the fastest hot rod on the track but couldn’t contend with the dirty air bubble created by Logano’s blocking strategy.
The victory was the third of the season for Joey Logano, who began the day in 5th place within the field of eight.
Joey Logano will be first of the four-driver Championship Round of the NACAR Cup Series playoffs at Phoenix 3 weeks out. Winning last spring race at Phoenix, Logano should be highly ranked as an odd favorite to contend for the Championship honors.
Hollywood Casino 400 – Final Results
1. Joey Logano
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Alex Bowman
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Kyle Busch
6. Chase Elliott
7. Ryan Blaney
8. William Byron
9. Martin Truex Jr.
10. Christopher Bell
11. Austin Dillon
12. Matt DiBenedetto
13. Aric Almirola
14. Cole Custer
15. Denny Hamlin
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
17. John Hunter Nemechek
18. Bubba Wallace
19. Michael McDowell
20. Erik Jones
21. Chris Buescher
22. Ryan Newman
23. Corey LaJoie
24. Ty Dillon
25. Tyler Reddick
26. Clint Bowyer
27. Daniel Suarez
28. Brennan Poole
29. Ryan Preece
30. JJ Yeley
31. Jimmie Johnson
32. James Davison
33. Quin Houff
34. Timmy Hill
35. Josh Bilicki
36. Reed Sorenson
37. Joey Gase
38. Kurt Busch
39. Chad Finchum
40. Matt Kenseth
Home-State favorite Clint Bowyer from Emporia, saw his Cup Series-long quest to win at Kansas Speedway ended with a 26th finish on Sunday. Bowyer, will retired after the 2020 season and begin a new career as a television booth commentator.
Kurt Busch won his way into the NASCAR Cup Series Round of Eight playoffs with a victory at Las Vegas in the second round. To his dismay, Kurt would suffer engine problems finishing 38th. After Kansas race, Kurt Busch is listed a 73 points deficit behind Brad Keselowski for the fourth spot. Two races remaining for final cut, Kurt may need to win either one of the two remaining playoff races to punch a ticket to the Playoff Final 4.
The Round of 8 Playoff elimination continues next Sunday, October 25th with the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 hosted by Texas Motor Speedway, NBCSN Sirus/XM NASCAR Channel 90
