Joey Logano had to wait two extra days to make his 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Rain washed out the Sunday night race and NASCAR postponed the event until Tuesday morning. Logano started from the 24th position, but handling issues on the No.20 Home Depot Toyota made it a challenging day for the team. After several breaks in action due to rain, Logano crossed the finish line in the 24th position and remains 18th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings.

“That was a really tough day,” said Logano. “No matter what we did to the car, it was just so inconsistent. One minute it was so tight I couldn’t turn it and the next minute I felt like I was in a four-wheel slide through the corner. This track for me has been so aggravating. This certainly isn’t the race weekend we wanted. I don’t really know why we struggle here. It’s not due to a lack of effort but man it’s frustrating.”

Mother Nature once again had different plans for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. After washing the event out on Sunday night before the Labor Day holiday, NASCAR determined for the safety of its fans and competitors it would postpone the event until Tuesday as the forecast predicted potential flooding and tornados on Monday. The series returned Tuesday morning to threatening skies, but was able to drop the green flag for the 325-lap race on schedule at 11 a.m. ET.

The Home Depot Toyota lined up 24th for the race, but it quickly became apparent that handling issues were going to plague the team. Logano experienced a tight in the center, loose-off condition that would challenge the team throughout the race. Despite several attempts to rectify the situation, the car was inconsistent. Logano told crew chief Greg Zipadelli at times the car was so tight he couldn’t turn the wheel, then the next lap it would snap loose and he could barely keep it off the wall.

Logano and the team tried to diagnose what changes would help the handling the most, but they were unable to get a good balance in the car. At the midway point of the race and despite several trips down pit road for adjustments, Logano was running in the 25th position. Rain and a heavy mist halted the race several times, but NASCAR and the track were determined to run the entire scheduled 325 laps. Logano was able to remain on the lead lap despite the handling issues and several long green-flag runs until lap 295 when he was passed by eventual race winner Jeff Gordon. The frustrating day resulted in a 24th-place finish for the team, while Logano’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch finished eighth and 23rd respectively.

Logano remains 18th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup driver standings, and is now five points behind Kasey Kahne in 17th. Richmond International Raceway hosts next weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race. The Saturday night short-track event will be broadcast on ABC beginning at 7:30 p.m. and MRN radio.

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