MADISON, Ill. — Chase Elliott and Joey Logano secured important top-five finishes Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway, positioning themselves well ahead of next weekend’s playoff cutoff race at Bristol. Elliott’s third-place finish marked the best Hendrick Motorsports result in four outings at this track, while Logano’s fifth-place extended his streak of top-five finishes to four at this venue.
Both drivers entered the weekend near the playoff cutline, with Elliott holding ninth place, 28 points above the cutoff, and Logano sitting 10th, 21 points clear. Their performances at this 1.25-mile St. Louis track, historically challenging for Hendrick Motorsports, were critical in securing a points cushion ahead of the highly anticipated Bristol race.
Drivers Reflect on the Importance of Points Gained in a Tight Playoff Battle
Joey Logano acknowledged the high stakes, noting,
“We walked in today, I said, we’ve got to leave here plus-20 to feel OK,”
emphasizing the pressure on accumulating points to remain competitive in the playoffs. He added,
“20 points can swing a lot of different ways. … It’s still going to be tight. There’s no doubt it’s not comfortable,”
underscoring the uncertain nature of the playoff cutoff.
Logano’s impressive consistency at World Wide Technology Raceway includes a win in 2022 and a top-five finish in every start at this track. This strong showing is especially valuable given his recent struggles at Bristol, where he has failed to finish in the top 20 over the last five races. He expressed satisfaction with the effort, saying,
“We did a good job of executing today. Wish it was a win, but, overall, another top five here in St. Louis is good.”
Elliott Finds Momentum with First Top-Five Result in Recent Races
For Chase Elliott, Sunday’s race was a significant turnaround, marking his first top-five finish in seven races. He reflected on his performance, stating,
“It was awesome to be up there in the mix,”
highlighting a return to competitive form during restarts and overall race pace.
He further detailed,
“I felt like I was doing a better job today of just extracting the pace in the right ways and making it live on the long run. So really proud of the effort. Great time to have a good run. Hopefully, we keep it going next week,”
expressing optimism for maintaining momentum into the next round of the playoffs.
Upcoming Bristol Cutoff Race Holds High Stakes for Playoff Advancement
With the Bristol race looming, both Elliott and Logano face critical challenges, including a new right-side tire prone to heavy wear and a track known for frequent crashes. Securing a solid points advantage at World Wide Technology Raceway was essential to reducing pressure going into Bristol.
Their ability to capitalize on this opportunity improves their chances of progressing deeper into the playoffs. As top contenders and former Cup champions, their performances in the coming races will be closely watched by teams and fans alike, with the playoff standings still in a delicate balance.
