Logano Masters Kentucky
June 15, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Image details: Meijer 300 served by picapp.com
In only his third start in the Nationwide Series, 18-year old Joey Logano was nothing but masterful during Saturday’s Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway en route to picking up his first career victory in the series. Logano passed teammate, Kyle Busch, for the lead on lap 147 and stayed there for the ensuing 53 laps to become the youngest winner in Nationwide history at 18 years, 21 days (the former record was held by Casey Atwood at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days in 1999 at Milwuakee). The victory also gives Joe Gibbs Racing their leading 10th victory on the season.
Logano finished 2.259 seconds ahead of Scott Wimmer, who ran second in the race, with veteran, Mike Wallace, coming home third. Fourth place went to last week’s race winner, Brad Keselowski. Rounding out the top-five was rookie driver, Bryan Clauson. Sixth place was taken by second year Nationwide driver, Marcos Ambrose, and David Ragan, Mike Bliss, Clint Bowyer, and Jason Keller completed the top-ten finishers.
Kyle Busch had a great day turned sour. After flying into Kentucky Speedway late, he was forced to start the race dead last in 43rd. Forty laps later, however, Busch found himself with the lead and went onto lead a race high 85 laps on the day. After surrending the lead to Joey Logano on lap 147, Busch tried to fight back from the second spot, but he lost control of his car on lap 164. The spin sent Busch slamming into the outside retaining wall down the backstretch, and he went onto finish 30th.
Clint Bowyer retained control of the points lead, and now leads Brad Keselowski by 170 points. Keselowski jumped three spots in the standings to take over 2nd over David Reutimann and Carl Edwards, who finished 13th and 20th. Kyle Busch’s run dropped him from third to fifth in the standings.
For Logano, he has now led laps in each of his first three starts in the series. Those three starts have resulted in a win, 2 top-ten’s, and 2 pole awards. Between Logano’s driving abilities and the dominant team that Joe Gibbs has assembled for him over in that no. 20 car, the rest of the series could be in for a very long, agonizing season.
Click here for the complete results from the Meijer 300.
Nationwide Series Standings:
|
|
|||||||||
| RANK |
+/- |
DRIVER |
POINTS |
BEHIND |
STARTS |
POLES |
WINS |
TOP 5 |
TOP 10 |
| 1 |
– |
Clint Bowyer |
2336 |
Leader |
16 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
13 |
| 2 |
+3 |
Brad Keselowski |
2166 |
-170 |
16 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
8 |
| 3 |
-1 |
David Reutimann |
2161 |
-175 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
8 |
| 4 |
– |
Carl Edwards |
2111 |
-225 |
16 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
8 |
| 5 |
-2 |
Kyle Busch |
2093 |
-243 |
16 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
| 6 |
+1 |
David Ragan |
2041 |
-295 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
9 |
| 7 |
-1 |
Mike Bliss |
2041 |
-295 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
| 8 |
+1 |
Mike Wallace |
1944 |
-392 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
| 9 |
-1 |
David Stremme |
1916 |
-420 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
| 10 |
– |
Jason Leffler |
1834 |
-502 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
| 11 |
– |
Jason Keller |
1780 |
-556 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 12 |
– |
Steve Wallace |
1744 |
-592 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
| 13 |
+1 |
Marcos Ambrose |
1709 |
-627 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| 14 |
-1 |
Kelly Bires |
1686 |
-650 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| 15 |
– |
Bobby Hamilton Jr. |
1643 |
-693 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| 16 |
– |
Kevin Harvick |
1494 |
-842 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
| 17 |
– |
Brad Coleman |
1490 |
-846 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| 18 |
– |
Kenny Wallace |
1447 |
-889 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 19 |
+2 |
Scott Wimmer |
1307 |
-1029 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
| 20 |
– |
Kevin Lepage |
1247 |
-1089 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
This kid looks like he might be the real deal.
I second that. at first i thought he might just be one of those overhyped punk kids but he really looking good so far.
I agree. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about just how good the kid might be, but he’s been absolutely solid and a very mature driver thus far.