Joey Logano prevailed in a green-white-checkered overtime to win the opening playoff race of the NASCAR Cup Series, Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Connor Zilisch is a rising star in NASCAR and, after winning his first truck race earlier this year, he then won on his Xfinity debut on Saturday at Watkins Glen. Zilisch has been compared to Kyle Larson and some fans are calling for him to be given a chance in the Cup Series,

Outside of the three-race increments it operates in, the NASCAR playoffs don't care who a driver is or what he's done, which is what makes each year's playoffs so rife with drama and so volatile in who advances and who does not.

HAMPTON, Ga. — J oey Logano scored his second victory of the season, taking the checkered flag in overtime at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Logano advances to the second round of the playoffs a year after he was eliminated in the first round. Ty Gibbs is 12th in points — the final transfer spot to the second round — with 2027 points.

Joey Logano is through, Ryan Blaney is leading the rest of the field, and everyone still has a chance after the first playoff race.

Who won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta? Joey Logano is the winner, plus full NASCAR Cup results, running order, leaderboard at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Tyler Reddick was disappointed with the tactics that drivers resorted to while competing at Watkins Glen last weekend. The post After Dale Jr., Joey Logano Blames NASCAR for Creating 'Bulldozers', Destroying 'Respect' in Cup Series appeared first on EssentiallySports.