Joey Logano playoff performance took center stage as both Logano and Chase Elliott secured top-five finishes on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. This key result improves their prospects for advancing to the next round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, especially with the unpredictable cutoff race looming at Bristol next weekend.
The day ended with Elliott placing third, his best finish for Hendrick Motorsports at this track over the past four races, while Logano finished fifth, marking his fourth consecutive top-five at this venue near St. Louis. With these results, Elliott sits ninth in the standings, holding a 28-point lead above the playoff cutline, and Logano follows closely in tenth, 21 points ahead of elimination.
Logano and Elliott Gain Ground After Borderline Points Start
Both drivers entered the Madison race teetering around the cutoff threshold—Elliott was nine points above, and Logano three below. The improved showing compared to Logano’s 20th-place finish in the playoff opener at Darlington gives both drivers much-needed breathing room.
“We walked in today, I said, we’ve got to leave here plus-20 to feel OK,”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Despite the margin, Logano stressed how quickly fortunes can change in the playoff format:
“20 points can swing a lot of different ways. … It’s still going to be tight. There’s no doubt it’s not comfortable.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
A poor result on Sunday could have severely jeopardized Logano’s advancement, but his consistent performance on this 1.25-mile track at World Wide Technology Raceway proved essential. While Logano won at this circuit in 2022 and remains unbeaten outside the top five in any of his four starts here, Bristol remains a sore spot for him—he hasn’t finished in the top 20 in the last five races at that venue.
Elliott’s Return to Form and the Battle Ahead
Chase Elliott’s third-place on Sunday was his first top-five finish in the previous seven races, reflecting a much-needed turnaround for him and Hendrick Motorsports, who have historically struggled at this track. As Bristol approaches—where added tire wear from a new right-side compound and crash risks add to the tension—Elliott’s strengthened position gives him more control over his playoff destiny.
“It was awesome to be up there in the mix,”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
He added,
“I felt like I was doing a better job today of just extracting the pace in the right ways and making it live on the long run. So really proud of the effort. Great time to have a good run. Hopefully, we keep it going next week.”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Looking Toward Bristol’s High-Stakes Cutoff
The tension remains high as teams head to Bristol, where unpredictable tire conditions and the ever-present danger of being caught in a crash could threaten even the most prepared drivers. Both Joey Logano and Chase Elliott emphasized the importance of maximizing points at every opportunity, relying on their strong WWTR performances to boost their playoff prospects.
“We did a good job of executing today,”
said Logano.
“Wish it was a win, but, overall, another top five here in St. Louis is good.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
With both drivers now in advantageous positions over the playoff cutline, the focus will shift to consistency and risk management as the field prepares for a pivotal round at Bristol. Their playoff runs—highlighted by standout performances in Madison—have kept fans, analysts, and teams closely watching every point and position.
