Joey Logano Wins Wild Bristol Night Race as Ryan Blaney, Carson Hocevar Combat After Late Crash

Joey Logano gained the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, taking the lead from Carson Hocevar with 9 laps remaining and holding on for his third victory of the season, as a late-race crash involving Ryan Blaney and Hocevar led to a post-race struggle between the 2 drivers.

Logano’s No. 22 Ford seized the lead throughout a restart that capped an intense battle between Hocevar and Ty Gibbs, who had traded the lead over the ultimate 100 laps, and led the ultimate seven laps to the end. It was Logano’s fortieth profession Cup Series win and his third at Bristol, making him Team Penske’s all-time winningest NASCAR driver. Kyle Larson completed second, Hocevar third, Christopher Bell fourth and Gibbs fifth.

The incident Logano referenced got here with 41 laps remaining, when Hocevar’s No. 77 slid down the observe and made contact with Blaney’s No. 12, sending Blaney right into a spin as he was racing for second place. Blaney, who had led a race-high 202 laps and gained Stage 2, completed thirty third amongst Chase-eligible drivers. After the race, Blaney shoved Hocevar in pit street; Hocevar responded with two punches, the second of which linked, knocking Blaney down. Blaney obtained up and threw a punch of his personal earlier than crew members separated the 2 drivers.

Larson’s runner-up end moved him into the Chase factors lead, one level forward of Denny Hamlin, whereas Logano climbed to 3rd. Blaney fell to sixth within the standings after his second consecutive end outdoors the highest 30. The Chase’s subsequent race is the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 27.