Win and you’re in. What would you be willing to do to guarantee a spot in the playoffs?
Joey Logano isn’t the first to make an aggressive more to win a race under this playoff format, now will be the last. For all the angst we’ve heard since he moved William Byron to win Darlington, I think there are some points to consider.
First, in many fans’ minds, it does matter who does the moving. And, don’t try to tell me it doesn’t. Second, Logano moved Byron. He didn’t wreck him. There’s a skill in that, that a lot of drivers don’t have. Finally, whether or not you agree with Logano about how hard Byron put in in the wall on the restart, it was less than a month ago that Byron brake-checked Logano to seal his win at Martinsville. Things do accumulate.
My biggest question is: would you feel differently if Logano had waited until the final lap? I’ve given that a lot of thought. It seemed like he could have tried to pass him cleanly with two to go, but as I thought about it, I realized that a lot could happen that would prevent Logano from getting another shot.
I certainly think Byron would have tried to block him. Or push him too hard into Turn One. Or flat out turn him.
After all, it’s all about the win.