Hamlin led on the ultimate restart with 10 of 400 laps remaining with Logano lined up alongside him. Whereas Hamlin had led probably the most laps within the race, Logano had proven the flexibility to guide late within the occasion.
It appeared just like the duo would duel to the end.
Enter Alex Bowman.
Bowman, who had run persistently within the top-five a lot of the race however bought despatched to the again of the sphere early on the stage of the third stage for an uncontrolled tire penalty, fired off robust on the restart, rapidly transferring below Logano to take second.
By the doorway to Flip 1, Bowman had additionally went to the within of Hamlin and got here away with the lead – his first within the race. He led the ultimate 10 laps on his strategy to the win.
“I assumed we had been going to be a battle between the entrance row, particularly the best way we launched on the ultimate restart there. Simply may barely grasp on to (Hamlin’s) quarter (panel) down into (Flip) 1,” Logano stated.
“I assumed perhaps I can roll the highest right here. Bought there, the entrance simply wasn’t woken up but. Wasn’t turning for about three laps. Clearly, (Bowman) was in a special league for about 5 laps. Fairly apparent changes they made to make that occur.
“I feel the observe went for a swing as a lot as something. I feel (Bowman) sort of snookered everyone.”
Logano, who already has a win this season and is locked within the playoffs, was nonetheless pissed off coming to shut to a second one, particularly in a race the place he didn’t have the very best automobile.
Hamlin led probably the most laps – 207. The following closest driver was his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Martin Truex Jr., who bought sidelined late within the race with a pit street rushing penalty.
“It’s irritating on the identical time for most likely two of the very best automobiles getting beat by that on the finish. You get pissed off being so shut, however on the identical time no less than you’re shut, so that you sort of trip with that in your thoughts,” Logano stated.
“Stable run for us. No win. Had enjoyable racing Denny there for some time. It was battle there for the lead backwards and forwards all through these lengthy runs.
“Sadly, none of it was for the win.”
Requested if he was stunned Bowman turned a participant for the win, Logano stated, “I feel we’re all stunned. Something can occur on a late race restart on a brief observe. As Denny says, it’s short-track racing, proper?
“I feel that’s most likely what it sort of got here right down to. They made nice changes to make their automobile hearth off higher. What we noticed was him being lights out for 5, six laps. Then it equaled out.
“I’m simply assuming he pumped up his stress. I’m unsure how a lot. However appeared like the plain to me.”