Logano and Team Penske surge in points as Chase lineup solidifies
Joey Logano's Richmond win propels him and Team Penske up the points ladder as the Chase field stays unchanged, while Kyle Larson captures a sprint-car victory in Iowa.
Three-time Cup champion Joey Logano is leveraging a victory at Richmond Raceway to push for a title in the revived points-only Chase system, moving his No. 22 Ford from 20th to ninth in the standings over the last six events. The playoff field of 16 drivers has remained static, leaving Shane van Gisbergen in the final position and positioning Denny Hamlin to secure the top seed at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney overtook Ty Gibbs for second place and Austin Cindric rose to 15th, strengthening the team's championship prospects.
Racing Insights notes that past champions typically start the Chase within the top six. Meanwhile, after a sixth-place finish at Richmond, Kyle Larson traveled to Iowa and led every lap to win the Knoxville Nationals sprint-car race, adding to his busy weekend. The developments set the stage for the regular-season finale at Daytona and the Chase kickoff at Darlington Raceway.
Why it matters
The points surge reshapes the playoff picture and highlights the competitive dynamics before the NASCAR championship begins.
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