World Wide Technology Raceway(Gateway) Race Review
Racing in St. Louis! The Nascar Cup Series visited World Wide Technology Raceway, famously known as “Gateway” for a showdown! This was the first time ever, that the Nascar Cup Series has raced in St. Louis. Joey Logano takes home the checkered flag in a nail-biting way. Logano picks up his 2nd win of the season and 29th of his career. Logano joins William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Ross Chastain as the only multiple winners this season.
(Joey Logano Post-Race)
With a caution for Kevin Harvick coming in the closing laps, we saw another overtime finish. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch restarted side by side until Logano got around the #18 and cruised to the checkered flag. Kurt Busch, the older brother to Kyle Busch finished 3rd, followed by Ryan Blaney in 4th. Team Penske unloaded very good heading into practice and qualifying as it certainly showed today. Joey Logano was first in everything besides qualifying on Saturday.
Temper’s flared throughout today’s race between Ross Chastain, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott. Battling for 6th position in stage 1, Ross Chastain punted Denny Hamlin into the wall. In an eager, aggressive, and bombarding move Chastain couldn’t get around Hamlin until he wrecked him. This ended Hamlin’s promising day early on as the toe link broke in his #11 machine. Later in the race, each time Hamlin and Chastain got near each other, Hamlin raced him aggressively. Hamlin would squeeze Chastain off the track, followed up by slowing down directly in front of the #1 car. Ross Chastain then continued his bombarding driving, by getting into the back of Chase Elliott. This took out multiple cars and a lot of fast cars. Lastly, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin finally both got to Ross Chastain and tagged-teamed together, which sent the #1 car into the wall. Chastain later owned up to his mistakes in his post-race interview, he finished 8th. Due to Chastain, Hamlin comes home 34th and Elliott in 21st.
(Joey Logano in Victory Lane)
Notable drivers throughout today’s race were Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Christopher Bell, A.J. Allmendinger, and Justin Haley. Ryan Blaney in the #12 car for Team Penske ran well today. Kurt Busch, for 23XI Racing, had a great afternoon. The #45 team had a stellar performance as they racked up a stage win, and a top 3 finish. Kurt Busch stayed out of trouble throughout the afternoon, which set him up for success today. Kurt Busch was there for the win, but he settles with a 3rd place finish. The #12 car was a major contender throughout the top ten for most of today. He had a spin earlier where a tire went down coming out of turn 2, which sent him to the back. Ryan Blaney rebounds nicely heading into Sonoma with a 4th place finish. Aric Almirola had one of the best days throughout the entire field this afternoon. The #10 car finished 6th in stage 1, 5th in stage 2, and 5th to end the race. Almirola showed speed, and consistency throughout today’s event. With him on the cutline, he will need to capture a win or keep stacking up great finishes. Almirola settles in 5th, he was the best finishing car out of the Stewart Haas Racing camp this afternoon. Martin Truex Jr. was another notable driver this weekend. Truex Jr. spoke with reporters earlier this weekend and said he wasn’t sure on whether or not he’ll race next season. Today was a bright spot for the #19 team, as he comes home 6th. A favorable track comes up for Martin Truex Jr. which is Sonoma Raceway, he has three wins at the road course. Look out for Truex Jr., next week in wine country. Erik Jones, one of the brightest storylines this weekend finishes 7th. Once again, for Petty GMS Racing, Erik Jones has delivered and overachieved each weekend. The iconic #43 car was great at Gateway today and racks up a great finish. Christopher Bell finishes 9th. The driver of the #20 showed speed getting around this unique oval, which certainly paid off. Joe Gibbs Racing showed great speed throughout the weekend, Bell was a highlight throughout the field this afternoon. A.J. Allmendinger for Kaulig Racing, had one of the most interesting stories this weekend. Allmendinger started off the weekend in Portland, for the Xfinity Series race. He won the race in Portland, Oregon, and flew all the to WWT Raceway, just outside of St. Louis for today’s race. He rounds out the top ten after a great weekend for him and Kaulig Racing. Justin Haley, the teammate to A.J Allmendinger ran an impressive race. He picks up a top-15 which was badly needed for his #31 team. Honorable mentions go to Zane Smith, Michael McDowell, and Austin Cindric. Zane Smith, who races full-time in the Camping World Truck Series pulled double duty this weekend, as he filled in for Chris Buescher of RFK Racing. Buescher was out with Covid-19 this week, which put Zane Smith behind the wheel of the #17 car. Zane Smith, in his first-ever Cup Series race, finishes 17th. Smith is one of the hottest young prospects in the Truck Series, who has a lot of potential. Look out for Smith to land a ride in the Xfinity Series next season, and quickly move his way up to the Cup Series. Michael McDowell for Front Row Motorsports, ran a great race this weekend. He finishes18th, but McDowell led 34 laps this afternoon. Austin Cindric started the race in 2nd, he comes home 11th, which is positive momentum for his #2 team.
(Joey Logano in front of the Sold-out Crowd)
Guys who didn’t have the best of days, were Bubba Wallace, Cole Custer, Chase Briscoe, and Daniel Suarez. Wallace’s day was ruined by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. What was looking like a top-15 day for Wallace, ended after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun him out entering the corner. Wallace finishes 26th, as Stenhouse comes home in 32nd. Cole Custer, who ran up front towards the beginning of stage 2, faded at the end of today’s race and finished 29th. Chase Briscoe, today’s pole-sitter finished 24th. Briscoe had a flat tire while leading in stage 1, the #14 never really recovered. Daniel Suarez didn’t have the best day. He showed flashes but honestly didn’t run well towards the end. Suarez for Trackhouse Racing finishes 23rd.
In my opinion, today was great. Storylines, drama, tire issues, and a sold-out crowd packed World Wide Technology Raceway which was good to see. Passing on the race track was a little bit complex, as that is the only bad thing from today. We saw the first Cup Series race in the market of St. Louis as the crowd showed up today. It was a good day for Nascar, as WWT Raceway(World Wide Technology), was good in its inaugural race for the Cup Series. Taking all action into consideration, I’d rate today’s event a 9.3 out of 10.
For the next race, we will head to wine country! Sonoma Raceway, the road course in Sonoma, California is where the Nascar Cup Series is headed this weekend. Both the Truck and Cup Series will make the trip out to Sonoma. Practice for the Truck Series will be Friday at 6:05pm ET, followed by qualifying at 1:00pm ET on Saturday. The Truck Series race will be on Saturday later that night at 7:30pm ET. The Cup Series will have practice at 4:30pm ET, followed by qualifying at 5:30pm ET on Saturday. The Xfinity Series will have the next two weeks off and will return at Nashville Superspeedway. For the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, tune in on June 12th at 4:00pm ET only on FS1. This will be the final weekend that Nascar will have its coverage on FOX’s TV networks. Coverage will switch to NBC on June 26th at Nashville Superspeedway.
( All images credited to https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/cup-series.)
For next week's race information please view the link down below:
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