NASCAR at Kansas results: Joey Logano fights off Kevin Harvick, clinches championship berth

Dan Bernstein

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NASCAR at Kansas results: Joey Logano fights off Kevin Harvick, clinches championship berth image

Joey Logano is onto the NASCAR Cup Series championship after winning at Kansas on Sunday, leaving just three open spots with two races left in the Round of 8.

He entered the Hollywood Casino 400 out of the top four and was a non-factor through the first two stages. But once he passed Kevin Harvick in the final 50 laps from a restart, he could not be stopped.

"Joey is just a good blocker," said a resigned Harvick after the race.

Harvick is still in prime position to reach the championship, his second-place finish offering a further boost to his already strong odds. Others, however, will be nervous after Logano's win.

Kurt Busch's engine failure and subsequent DNF means he must win one of the next two races to move on. Martin Truex Jr.'s off day puts him in a precarious situation as well.

Though it did not play a major role in the result of the race, Chase Elliott's inability to hear his team because of radio problems caused controversy, with some wanting him to get a black flag. NASCAR let the No. 9 drive on with a rudimentary communications system of hand signals and manual signs. Elliott finished sixth.

Here is the playoff picture after Kansas:

Pos. Driver Distance from cut-off
1 Joey Logano ADV
2 Kevin Harvick +41
3 Denny Hamlin +20
4 Brad Keselowski +8
CUT-OFF CUT-OFF CUT-OFF
5 Chase Elliott -8
6 Alex Bowman -27
7 Martin Truex Jr. -31
8 Kurt Busch -73

Sporting News tracked live updates and lap-by-lap highlights from Sunday's NASCAR race at Kansas. Follow below for complete results from the Hollywood Casino 400.

NASCAR at Kansas live updates, highlights from Hollywood Casino 400

5:43 p.m.: Joey Logano wins the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas! He has clinched a spot in the championship.

5:41 p.m.: Bowman sneaks up to third. Logano still in first. Five laps to go.

5:38 p.m.: 10 laps to go.

5:36 p.m.: Logano's ability to block off competitors, as well as a racing package that makes passing the leader difficult, might keep Harvick from ever making the move he needs.

5:33 p.m.: 20 laps to go.

5:29 p.m.: The top five is made entirely of playoff drivers right now. Logano-Harvick-Keselowski-Bowman-Elliott.

5:27 p.m.: This is shaping up to be a fun finish. Harvick and Logano have been in a battle for quite a while at the top, and Keselowski and Bowman aren't far from the duo.

5:22 p.m.: Back to green with 42 laps to go. Logano leads.

5:18 p.m.: Pit stops across the board under caution.

5:15 p.m.: Caution for Tyler Reddick.

5:08 p.m.: Back to green following the caution for Kurt Busch's engine failure.

5:06 p.m.: Elliott will keep trying to be creative until NASCAR tells him he needs to fix his radio.

4:58 p.m.: Kurt Busch is OUT.

4:49 p.m.: Hamlin kisses the wall and needs to pit.

4:43 p.m.: Harvick passes Logano.

4:40 p.m.: Logano to the lead.

4:38 p.m.: The Elliott saga continues.

4:29 p.m.: Denny Hamlin wins Stage 2.

4:23 p.m.: Elliott's communication issues are starting to cause some controversy.

4:17 p.m.: Not good.

4:16 p.m.: Caution for Matt Kenseth.

4:09 p.m.: Elliott reports more radio trouble. Didn't hurt him in Stage 1, but he needs to get that figured out soon.

3:57 p.m.: There haven't been any non-competition cautions yet after some messy races in recent weeks.

3:56 p.m.: Hamlin to first place.

3:47 p.m.: Kurt Busch has recovered from a terrible start and is in fifth place now.

3:43 p.m.: Elliott can hear clearly now.

3:39 p.m.: Chase Elliott is his own tech support.

3:35 p.m.: Elliott wins Stage 1 with Keselowski on his tail.

3:33 p.m.: Harvick falls back to fifth place.

3:28 p.m.: Elliott takes the lead.

3:24 p.m.: Elliott is having communication issues.

3:20 p.m.: Kurt Busch is the lowest-running playoff driver in 23rd place.

3:11 p.m.: Harvick takes the lead with 47 laps left in Stage 1.

2:59 p.m.: Elliott, who started in the pole position, has maintained his lead through 20 laps.

2:51 p.m.: We're live at Kansas! Welcome to the Round of 8.

2:47 p.m.: NASCAR has Clint Bowyer do a tribute lap behind the pace car. He's retiring after this year, and Kansas is his home track. Nice touch.

2:39 p.m.: Engines are fired.

2:30 p.m.: Pre-race activities are underway. National anthem is in the books and engines should fire up fairly soon.

NASCAR race start time today

The Round of 8 NASCAR playoff race at Kansas on Sunday should begin at about 2:30 p.m. ET. Rain is possible but considered unlikely for the competition.

The race is 267 laps spread over three stages and will become official after Lap 134. The distance of the race is 400 miles.

Dan Bernstein