HAMPTON, Ga. -- Joey Logano may have won the race and locked up a spot in the Round of 12, but Christopher Bell couldn't help but smile as he reflected on the chaotic playoff opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
"Man, that race was absolutely incredible, and I think all the drivers need to be celebrating what we just accomplished," Bell told AltDriver on pit road after finishing fourth.
"To run 400 miles as chaotic as that and make it to the end without really crashing a bunch of cars. That was awesome."
Sunday's race at the 1.540-mile track did not unfold like a normal superspeedway race at Daytona or Talladega. Drivers were not limited to only two lanes of racing and tight pack racing.
They could slice and dice through the field while making aggressive moves in traffic.
They're mixing it up at the front of the field! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/al6FdbtXtl
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 8, 2024
The race featured 24 lead changes as 14 drivers led at least one lap. Austin Cindric led the most with 92. Ty Gibbs was second with 37 and Ryan Blaney was third with 33.
Bell didn't actually lead a single lap Sunday. He was back in the eye of the storm, but he was wholeheartedly enjoying the experience.
"Honestly, this was the best speedway race and the most enjoyable speedway race I've ever been a part of," Bell added. "Just having different lanes and not having to be so packed up. That was a lot of fun."
Yes, pushing was still crucial at times, especially considering that Ryan Blaney pushed Logano to the win in overtime while Daniel Suarez faded after losing his pusher, Ross Chastain.
But handling was a priority throughout the field. The Next Gen cars were a handful for several drivers who dealt with warm temperatures and a slick racing surface. This was a testament to the fact that the reconfigured track continues to lose grip as it ages.
"I feel like the first three rows was a speedway, but back in the pack, I felt like I was at a Kansas or Vegas restart for 40 laps, which is tiresome, especially for the spotters," Austin Cindric said while chuckling.
"But yeah, I think this place is a mix of everything, and we see a different race every time we come here."
Cindric is not the only driver who pointed out how Atlanta continues to change since its reconfiguration in 2021.
Ty Gibbs pondered the potential of NASCAR moving more toward an intermediate package in the coming years as Atlanta becomes less of a superspeedway. Logano simply compared the track to pre-repave Daytona, albeit without huge swells in the turns.
Suarez said that the race had "sketchy" moments but that he really enjoyed it despite falling one spot short of a season sweep.
Of course, the chaotic nature of Atlanta doesn't mean that the drivers are immediately ready to take on the track again, especially in the playoffs.
Chaotic races can be fun. They can also cause some tension for drivers trying to focus on navigating through the playoff rounds.
Sometimes, these drivers just want to take on something more familiar, especially when they are in pursuit of a championship.
"I'm glad it's behind me," Bell said while smiling. "I'm glad that we're going to a racetrack that's a little bit more normal next week."