Joey Logano seized the Cup crown on a torrential 450‑lap run at North Wilkesboro, leading 323 laps to eclipse his own 309‑lap personal best from Martinsville 2018.
Logano dominates, vaulting he into the Chase
The Team Penske driver, behind the wheel of a Ford, collected his 38th victory and moved past the Chase cut‑line, while Denny Hamlin watched his effort dissipate in the final sprint.
Logano’s performance lifted the Penske banner to the top of the leaderboard and called for a celebratory handshake from Hamlin at the finish.
Early stages saw a power‑shuffle
Ryan Blaney, initially on pole, saw a power‑steering jam force him to the rear; the front row opened to Kyle Bell and Ty Gibbs, the latter nurturing lead‑lap dominance before stage one capered.
Nick Chastain served a pass‑through after inspection flags; Noah Nemechek’s spin triggered the first caution.
Kyle Larson slammed the right‑front of a wheel into Johnny Zilisch behind the pit‑lane and took an extra stop after bending the wheel.
On the restart steely Shane van Gisbergen slipped past to claim the lead and logged a new personal oval record for laps led.
Stage 1 results
- Gibbs earned the stage win ahead of van Gisbergen.
- Logano finished third, with Hamlin, Hocevar, Bell, Elliott, Briscoe, Cindric and Byron also on lead‑lap.
Stage 2’s chaos yielded a new front‑row
Gibbs punched a speeding penalty on pit‑road, sending Logano to the fore while van Gisbergen claimed another brief lead.
Bell commenced the first green‑flag pit stops. Kevin Allmendinger’s hard push up the wall broke his right‑rear toe link and eliminated him from the field.
A collision between Larry Bowman and Christian Reddick at the pit entrance spun both into yellow‑wall territory, sending Suarez vying jacks‑up the track.
Only 15 cars remained on the lead‑lap after the wave‑around, but Russell Berry’s final turn wall‑slam destroyed the last field participant.
Gibbs rode a free pass to re‑ascend the lead‑lap. Logano snatched the stage title, leaving Hamlin, Briscoe, Wallace, van Gisbergen, Hocevar, Keselowski, Blaney, Gilliland and Suarez trailing; T. Dillon gained 15th on free pass.
Stage 3 uncapped the race
- Logano pressed ahead, but a sticking brake pedal sparked complaints with 125 laps to go.
- Hamlin stayed close, and with 90 laps left the pair cycled through traffic after Hamlin’s final green‑flag stop.
- Sam Herbst battled from the rear for 15‑lap stretch, unable to curb Logano’s momentum.
The final stretch ran photo‑finish clean; only six cars approached the lead‑lap. Logano crossed the line with a clear margin, and the finish was applauded by Hamlin, who praised the dominant win.
Gilliland’s Gamble sparks in‑season duels
Among the top‑ten finishers, Todd Gilliland continued a surprising run in the one‑million‑dollar In‑Season Challenge, dispatching Chase Elliott and stumbling into a showdown against Ryan Blaney heading into the championship finals.
Looking ahead
Logano’s command of the North Wilkesboro sprint not only propelled him into the Sprint Camps but also positioned the Penske crew for a formidable push as the season gains momentum.
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