Joey Logano won Sunday’s NASCAR Texas Cup Series race after a late surge outdueling Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney in a two-lap overtime dash to take the checkered flag.
The Wurth 400 served as the 11th event in the 36-race Cup Series calendar and was a dramatic affair marked by high attrition, numerous cautions and a late-race twist that saw Logano emerge as the ultimate survivor in overtime.
Following a disqualification at Talladega just one week earlier, Joey Logano driving the No. 22 Team Penske Ford delivered a masterclass in perseverance and opportunism to capture his first victory of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, securing a berth in the postseason.
From the drop of the green flag, NASCAR Texas Cup Series race promised unpredictability. The field was tightly packed and the early laps saw a flurry of position changes as drivers jostled for track position.
The Wurth 400 featured 20 lead changes among 13 different drivers underscoring the competitive balance and the challenge of maintaining control on the slick Texas surface.
Caution flags were a recurring theme with 12 interruptions slowing the pace and repeatedly shuffling the running order, forcing teams to adapt their strategies on the fly.
Michael McDowell emerged as a surprise contender in the latter stages with his No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet surging to the front after a restart on Lap 245.
McDowell showcased impressive speed and composure, holding the lead through two subsequent cautions while fending off challenges from more established frontrunners and looked poised to secure a memorable victory. However, the race’s defining moment arrived with just four laps remaining in regulation.
Joey Logano who had steadily worked his way into contention made a bold move on the backstretch, diving low to bypass McDowell who attempted to block but was unable to prevent the pass. Logano’s Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney also overtook McDowell for second place.
However the late overtake left McDowell in dirty air and lost control of his car, slamming into the Turn 2 wall. The incident ended his hopes in heartbreaking fashion finishing the race in 26th-place.
The ensuing caution set up an overtime finish with Logano in command. On the restart, he executed flawlessly and flew past Ryan Blaney before holding off a hard-charging Ross Chastain to secure the win.
Joey Logano’s win marked his second career triumph at Texas Motor Speedway and 37th overall in the Cup Series, providing a much-needed boost for the Team Penske driver after a turbulent start to the season.
Logano acknowledged the emotional swings inherent in the sport expressing pride in his team’s resilience and the satisfaction of finally delivering a win for long-time sponsor AAA Insurance.
Ross Chastain’s runner-up finish was a remarkable achievement given his starting position and the struggles his Trackhouse Racing team faced throughout the weekend. Chastain began the race in 31st and endured a difficult opening, finishing 24th in Stage 1 and 15th in Stage 2.
However, a pivotal pit stop orchestrated by crew chief Phil Surgen transformed the handling of the No. 1 Chevrolet, providing the comfort and confidence needed to navigate the chaos of the closing laps.
Chastain’s ability to avoid the late-race carnage and capitalize on the final restart allowed him to secure his best finish of the season, a result he described as a “working-class day” for his team.
Ryan Blaney ultimately finished Texas Cup Series race in third ahead of Kyle Larson who crossed the line in fourth, continuing his strong run of form in the 2025 campaign.
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Larson’s race was largely uneventful by the standards of the day as he avoided major incidents and methodically worked his way into the top five for Hendrick Motorsports.
Erik Jones rounded out the top five delivering a solid performance for Legacy Motor Club. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished sixth, followed by Austin Dillon in seventh and John Hunter Nemechek in eighth.
Christopher Bell and Daniel Suárez completed the top 10, each navigating the treacherous conditions to bank crucial points for their respective teams.
