Joey Logano has opened the next stage of the Chase for the Sprint Cup with victory in Kansas.

As good as it was for Logano, a number of big names had dramas as tyre failures and crashes were the big talking point on the high-speed 1.5-mile speedway.

This included Hendrick Racing’s Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne. Also coming to grief was Logano’s Team mate Brad Keslowski.

Logano won the Hollywood Casino 400, holding off rookie Kyle Larson. Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five.

Other Chase contenders in the top 15 were: Ryan Newman (sixth), Denny Hamlin (seventh), Kevin Harvick (12th), Matt Kenseth (13th) and Jeff Gordon (14th).

“We had such a fast Shell Pennzoil Ford again. It is so much fun to race these cars lately,” said Logano.

“I felt we had a good car all weekend but I wasn’t 100-percent sure but once that top opened up it just took off and there were a couple cars that could run up there and it was me and the 42 (Larson) that were the fastest up there.

“We were able to capitalise and do what we needed to do. It was fun.”

The victory ensured Logano will advance to the next round in NASCAR’s championship playoff. As the points were re-set after last weekend’s race at Dover, the likes of Keselowski could fall out of contention should he have another bad result at the next race in Charlotte.

Australia’s Marcos Ambrose finished in 20th after sitting just outside the top-10 midway through the race. He also narrowly avoided the accident that eliminated Jimmie Johnson.

VIDEO: Logano win in Kansas

VIDEO: Victory Lane

VIDEO: Jimmie Johnson crash

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