The Southern 500 delivered as expected, living up to fans’ anticipation. As the qualified 16-pack of playoff cars took to the track, both JGR and Hendrick Motorsports showcased dominance. Ultimately, it was Kyle Larson who claimed victory, reaching the checkered flag first and securing the 500th engine shop win for his team.

However, within those 16 drivers, Joey Logano stood out as the defending champion, determined to retain his championship crown. Logano is a figure of controversy, recognized for his unwavering pursuit of victory, regardless of the cost. While this approach has garnered criticism from some, it also earns praise for his unyielding commitment to success. Similarly, a NASCAR veteran commended Joey Logano, particularly in light of an on-track incident involving Bubba Wallace.

Faith of the veteran remains firmly rooted in Joey Logano’s ability

During the final lap of Stage 1, Denny Hamlin secured his 6th stage win of the season, crossing the line in first place. In the midst of a tightly packed group of cars chasing the leader, Bubba Wallace slid against the outside wall, involving Joey Logano in the incident. The contact between Wallace’s #23 Toyota and Logano’s #22 Ford Mustang resulted in a spin, yet Logano skillfully regained control of his car.

Despite the spin, Bubba Wallace managed to finish in 7th place, while Joey Logano came in 12th. NASCAR veteran Kyle Petty expressed his belief that the defending champion had the potential for a better outcome than 12th place. Petty offered his analysis during a video shared by NASCAR, stating “I looked it up yesterday and thought another big winner yesterday Joey Logano. Those guys struggled they set the front toe they set the rear toe he hung in there and came out with a 12th place finish”.

Adding to the eventful race, another incident occurred under caution with 45 laps remaining. Joey Logano reported a problem with his car’s toe link. His crew chief chose to make adjustments rather than fix the bent toe link, a decision that prevented Logano from losing two laps.

However, Bubba Wallace acknowledged his mistake involving both Joey Logano and AJ Allmendinger during the race. He revealed that the incident had an impact on his team, despite finishing 7th.

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Why is the 23 driver so down about Sunday?

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Bubba Wallace’s attempt to secure a bonus point by aiming for a top-10 finish led to a mistake involving Joey Logano, causing ongoing issues for Logano’s team throughout the race.

In a conversation with Bob Pockrass, Bubba Wallace admitted, “Let the team down, I just made silly mistakes, dumb mistakes to the 22 and 16 and they made it hell, rightfully so. Apologies to them. Just did not execute as a driver today and felt really good going into the race. But got some regrouping to do and some things to figure out. Going to Kansas gotta regroup and move forward.”

Bubba Wallace had intended to boost his team’s position above the cutline with additional points in the playoff opener. His goal was to earn stage points and secure a top 5 finish, so falling short left him feeling like he had “let the team down.”

Can Bubba Wallace secure advancement to the next playoff rounds? Will Joey Logano successfully defend his title? Let us know in the comments.

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