KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Joey Logano has grabbed the first berth in the next round of NASCAR’s championship race with a victory Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
Logano’s win advanced him into the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, which begins after stops at Charlotte and Talladega. Four drivers will be cut from the 12-driver field after Talladega.
It puts the pressure on for some of NASCAR’s top drivers, many of whom had problems at Kansas. Six-time and defending champion Jimmie Johnson was in an early wreck, then Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne both hit the wall.
Logano teammate Brad Keselowski also hit the wall because of a tire problem, and Kevin Harvick made an unscheduled pit stop when he feared he had a tire problem.
Hendrick cars have crummy day at Kansas
Hendrick Motorsports had a rough day at Kansas Speedway, where championship contenders Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson have both wrecked.
Johnson was knocked out of Sunday’s race when Greg Biffle lost control of his car and hooked the side of Johnson’s Chevrolet. The six-time and defending NASCAR champion had his car taken to the garage for attempted repairs.
Shortly after, Earnhardt hit the wall hard while leading the race. NASCAR’s most popular driver had led for 45 laps before he joined Johnson behind the wall.
During the pit stop following Earnhardt’s wreck, teammate Jeff Gordon was penalized when his crew lost control of a tire. “It’s not our day,” the four-time champion radioed.