Joey Logano didn’t just snag another trophy at Richmond Raceway, he absolutely exploded up the NASCAR Cup Series standings! This dude vaulted four positions, going from 13th all the way to ninth after winning Saturday night’s Cook Out 400. That’s a massive move for the three-time champion, and get this: it’s happening right as the regular season slams into its final two races. Logano’s victory marks his second win in just four races, pushing him to 659 points, breathing down the neck of Kyle Larson.
Hamlin’s Run, Logano’s Charge, and the Rest of the Pack
Denny Hamlin is still driving like a man possessed, nobody’s catching him. He’s holding onto a commanding lead in the Cup Series standings, no question. His fourth-place finish at Richmond pushed him to a staggering 969 points, giving him a colossal 115-point cushion over Ryan Blaney. Blaney, even finishing 13th after starting from pole, still managed to climb one spot to second with 854 points. Ty Gibbs slipped one position to third with 842 points, and Tyler Reddick is holding strong at fourth with 831. Richmond runner-up Chase Briscoe is chilling in fifth with 715 points.
Chase Elliott also made a move, climbing one spot to sixth, tied with Christopher Bell at 695 points, with Elliott owning that position. Kyle Larson, man, what a save! He was another driver who really made some noise Saturday, jumping two spots to eighth with 660 points after recovering from a 30th-place start to finish sixth. Then comes Logano, sitting pretty at ninth with 659 points, just one measly point behind Larson. Chris Buescher rounds out the top ten with 653 points. These guys are the cream of the crop and many have officially locked their spots, but the real, heart-pounding drama is unfolding just below them.
The Chase Bubble: One Wrong Turn and You’re Done
Seriously, the fight for those final Chase spots is getting absolutely wild. Shane van Gisbergen currently finds himself clinging to the final Chase position at 16th with 567 points, even after slipping one spot following his 14th-place finish at Richmond. But hold up: Ryan Preece is right behind him in 17th with 517 points. That means SVG has only a 50-point lead. And don’t forget Ross Chastain, not far off either at 18th with 504 points, 63 behind van Gisbergen. Talk about a tight squeeze!
Austin Cindric, though, gave himself a little bit of breathing room after an impressive run at Richmond. He started way back in 23rd and powered all the way to third, moving up one spot to 15th with 574 points. That puts him a slim seven points ahead of van Gisbergen. The margin for error is shrinking faster than a Seattle summer, with New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway left to decide who makes the 16-driver field. Hamlin, Blaney, Gibbs, Reddick, Briscoe, Elliott, and Bell have officially clinched their spots. But for everyone else? These next two races are everything. Who’s gonna crack under the pressure, and who’s gonna punch their ticket to keep their season dreams alive? I can’t wait to see it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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