NASCAR sees first-of-its-kind situation unfold at Bristol
By Asher Fair
Never in the first nine years of the modern NASCAR Cup Series playoff format had we seen what unfolded on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Team Penske’s Joey Logano won the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series championship just one year after not even making it to the playoffs.
Now a two-time champion, the driver of the No. 22 Ford has become the first reigning champion to be eliminated in the first round of the modern playoff format, continuing what has been not only a lackluster season for himself but for Team Penske as a whole.
Logano was one of four drivers who failed to advance from the round of 16 to the round of 12 on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, as he was caught up in another driver’s mess and unable to continue to do the resulting damage to his car.
The three other eliminated drivers were Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick, JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell.
Prior to Logano’s elimination, the earliest a reigning champion had ever been eliminated since the modern playoff format was introduced nine years ago was the round of 12.
Even that had only happened three times in the history of this particular NASCAR Cup Series playoff format.
In 2014, Jimmie Johnson was eliminated in the second round, and in 2020, Kyle Busch was eliminated in the same. Kyle Larson suffered the same fate in 2022.
In 2015, Harvick made it back to the Championship 4. The following year, Busch did the same. In 2017, Johnson made it to the round of 8, and in 2018, Truex made it back to the Championship 4. Logano made it to the round of 8 in 2019. In 2021, Chase Elliott returned to the Championship 4.
Logano’s elimination means that the Cup Series will have to wait at least another year for its first repeat champion since Johnson won five titles in a row from 2006 to 2010.
Next. All-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list. dark
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are scheduled to continue with the round of 12 opener at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 24. USA Network is set to broadcast the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 live beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss it!