NASCAR halted Saturday night’s Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway after a multi-car accident on Lap 69 tore up more than half of the 40-car field and forced officials to display the red flag for extensive cleanup. The chain-reaction began when Denny Hamlin’s bump draft sent John Hunter Nemechek into the outside wall on the backstretch, blocking the track and triggering a pile-up that damaged 23 cars. Among the drivers knocked out were former champions Joey Logano and William Byron, along with Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suárez and Josh Berry. Part-time competitor Corey LaJoie, whose Ford was too damaged to continue, lamented the early-race aggression, saying competitors were “pushing like we’re damn bumper cars at Frankie’s Fun Park.” Racing resumed after safety crews cleared the wreckage, but several front-running contenders were already behind the wall.