Joey Logano guarantees Chase advancement with Kansas win

Oct 5, 2014; Kansas City, KS, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates after winning the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Joey Logano won the Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, securing his advancement to the next round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, despite what he encounters the next two weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

"“Makes Talladega a lot easier,” Logano said in victory lane."

Larson battled Logano in the closing laps, but was unable to catch him and get by, instead claiming runner-up honors.

"“Seems like that’s the story of my stock car career — so close,” Larson said. “I thought me and Joey were, definitely, the two best cars.”"

Logano and Larson restarted the race second and third with Ryan Newman in the lead in the final 30 laps. As soon as the race returned to green, Logano got out in front of Newman for the lead, while Busch took over second. Larson then got by Busch for the second spot and then began to reel in Logano.

"“I thought me and Joey were, definitely, the two best cars,” Larson said."

Larson gained ground on Logano, but as the laps wound down, Logano was to pull back out.

"“He was faster at certain points of the run, and then I was faster at certain points in the run.”"

Busch finished third, despite reporting a possible engine problem in the closing laps.

"“I don’t know if it’s going to make it; y’all better start praying,” Busch said to his team over the radio in the final 10 laps."

Martin Truex Jr. finished fourth, and Carl Edwards was fifth.

Kansas Speedway was unkind to several drivers still a part of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, especially those from Hendrick Motorsports. After starting in the back, Jimmie Johnson was caught up in an incident that brought out the third caution of the race on lap 85. He sustained enough damage to his car to spend a significant amount of time in the garage.

Johnson was joined in the garage by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on lap 122 after a right-front tire issue while leading the race sent Earnhardt into the wall and then to the garage. After returning to the track nearly 60 laps down, Earnhardt reported running on only seven cylinders.

A third Hendrick driver, Kasey Kahne, saw the yellow flag fly just a lap after making a green-flag pit stop on lap 228. To add insult to injury, on the restart that followed, Kahne hit the wall like his teammates before him.

Their teammate Jeff Gordon made contact with Jamie McMurray while racing near the front earlier in the race. As a result, Gordon lost several positions but unlike his teammates, was able to remain a part of the racing action without a trip to the garage.

Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski also hit the wall and spent significant time in the garage, bringing out the fifth caution of the race on lap 160.

Pole sitter and Chaser Kevin Harvick ran up front for much of the race, as did McMurray. Harvick suffered a tire issue that necessitated a green-flag pit stop just before the yellow flag waved on lap 229. He finished 12. McMurray fell off the pace and hit pit road because of an engine issue suffered while running eighth in the late laps. He wound up 25th at the end.

Newman finished sixth, Denny Hamlin was seventh, Austin Dillon eighth, Paul Menard ninth and Brian Vickers 10th.

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