Logano cops Dover 300 victory in JGR Toyota
Victory lane: race winner Joey Logano
Action Sports Photography
Joey Logano copped the OneMain Financial 200 at the Dover International Speedway late Saturday afternoon, scoring his seventh victory of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season. The young driver dominated the action at the Monster Mile, leading 184 laps to finish .8 seconds ahead of the runner-up car.
The winner drove the SportClips Toyota fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing. For his career, he has amassed 16 victories in 105 races, moving him into a tie for 16th on the all-time series wins list.
Once the track rubbered up, we knew we were in the groove and could stay out front all day.
Regarding race preparations, he stated, “It all started during practice yesterday, and we knew the direction we needed to go. Once the track rubbered up, we knew we were in the groove and could stay out front all day.”
Crew chief Adam Stevens said he knew the team brought a good car to the track and wasn’t surprised with the outcome. “Joey knew what he needed and when the driver knows what he wants, it makes our job easier,” Stevens noted.
Paul Menard drove the Menards/Rheem Chevrolet to a solid second place finish. “I didn’t know what to expect from our car, as I had not run a Nationwide race at Dover in a while,” he said. “The car was loose and had made to make a couple of big adjustments, which worked out for us. At the end, Joey (Logano) took off, and I couldn’t catch him. Until that point, I hadn’t even seen him as I had been running from fourth to eighth. At the end, I thought we were the fastest car, but I couldn’t catch Joey.”
Third place went to the much-improved Michael Annett, who gained his sixth consecutive top-five finish and his career-best finish. He powered the Pilot/Flying J Ford from the 12th starting position and gained three positions in the closing laps. He also managed to hold-off point leader Elliott Sadler at the finish.
Said the Iowan, “We were disappointed with our finish at Kentucky (a week ago), and we aren’t satisfied unless we get top-five finishes. We seem to be getting better with each race, and we will be going for the championship in 2013 and we are shooting for fifth in points for this season.”
Annett said he spun on his tires on the last restart but got pushed forward by the hard-charging Sadler, and the pair was able to take advantage of their positions on the track to earn commendable finishes.
Sadler trailed Annett across the finish line.
Kyle Busch earned fifth place.
Sixth through 10th were rookie Cole Whitt, Brian Scott, Kasey Kahne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon.
18-year old Darrell Wallace took the pole position in only his fourth Nationwide Series start, becoming the second-youngest driver to do so and the first African-American driver to earn a pole. He ended up 12th at the finish.
Danica Patrick finished on the lead lap in 16th place.
In the point standings, Sadler leads Stenhouse by nine with Dillon 25 behind and Sam Hornish Jr. trailing by 60. He finished 18th after cutting down a tire near the end.
Story by: Joe Jennings
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