NASCAR takeaways: Joey Logano locks in playoff spot after hectic Nashville finish

LEBANON, Tenn. — Maybe it was the spirit of Nashville that created the chaos at Nashville Superspeedway.

After all, it's a city where everyone stays out longer and later than they originally planned.

As the NASCAR Cup Series delved into bedlam as drivers tried to stretch it on fuel while jockeying for positions that resulted in a series-record five overtime restarts, Joey Logano emerged as the winner — appropriately with his car running out of gas as he crossed the finish line at Nashville Superspeedway.

Logano went 110 laps on his last tank of gas. Under green-flag conditions, a driver could go about 75-80 laps, and Logano benefitted from 41 laps under caution.

"You cross your fingers, say a prayer and hope that there's just enough gas in it," Logano said. "There wasn't a drop to spare."

Logano assumed the lead when Denny Hamlin ran out of gas under caution, and then Logano held on over the final two restarts in a race that went 31 laps beyond the scheduled 300-lap distance.

The Team Penske driver vaulted himself into the playoffs after entering the race as the last driver inside the playoff bubble. If he had run out of gas and finished around 25th, it could have severely damaged his playoff hopes.

"That, to me, was a ginormous risk," Logano said. "Going for the win and you could finish [deep in the field] makes it a pretty hard call. But, gosh, maybe you are winning the race. How do you not?"

Takeaways from the race where Logano was followed by Zane Smith (career-best finish), Tyler Reddick, Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher.

Larson Bummed With Incidents

Kyle Larson finished eighth and was involved in incidents on two of the late restarts.

In the first overtime, Larson restarted behind Hamlin, got loose and washed up