By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
Given the statistics, you might think Joey Logano ran away with Monday’s rain-delayed Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
Yes, Logano led 163 of 203 laps at the two-mile track in the Irish Hills. He had the fastest car in qualifying on Saturday and the fastest car in the 15th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event of the season.
But after a late caution for Erik Jones’ spin into the infield grass below Turn 2, Logano needed overtime to seal the win. He needed a superb restart on Lap 202 to gain an edge. And he needed a determined drive over the last two laps, aided by spotter T.J. Majors, to hold off charging Kurt Busch by .147 at the finish.
Logano wasn’t about to reveal how he got such a good launch on the decisive restart.
“I can’t tell you everything I learned,” quipped the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, who won for the second time this season, the third time at Michigan—all from the pole—and the 23rd time in his career. “You race this whole race, you keep building that notebook up.
“What a great execution day from our race car, obviously very fast. Our pit crew was amazing. T.J. Majors spotted his butt off up there. The race fans sticking around till Monday–you guys are the best. We love coming up to Michigan. Nothing like bringing a Ford to Victory Lane in their home turf, Roger Penske cars as well. This is a big win for us.”
Thanks to Logano’s victory, Ford Motor Company retained the Michigan Heritage Trophy that goes to the manufacturer of the winning car. Ford drivers have won the last three races at the 2.0-mile track.
Despite sustaining right rear damage to his No. 1 Chip Ganassi racing Chevrolet during a brush with the outside wall on Lap 42, Busch ran in or near the top five for the vast majority of the race. He was third for the final restart and quickly steered to the inside of Martin Truex Jr.’s Toyota to grab the second position.
Busch, however, couldn’t catch Logano on the final lap.
“I had a blast,” Busch said. “Tightest I ever put my belts at the end of a race. We got enough stage points today, we said ‘Hell with it, we don’t need to get anything but the win.’ We got second today.”
Before the final caution, Busch was running behind Martin Truex Jr., locked in a tight draft. The two cars were gaining on Logano, but the yellow flag interrupted their progress.
“Logano’s car was tough,” Busch said. “I really wanted it to go green at the end with Truex. I was going to push him straight through the 22 (Logano). My best shot at it.
“We’ll get it. It gives us reason to smile and be happy. We ran up front, were strong in our manufacturer’s back yard, but got second today.”
Truex held the third spot, followed by Daniel Suarez and Kyle Busch. Brad Keselowski ran sixth ahead of Kevin Harvick, who rallied from early issues with a vibration that cost him a lap but lost too much ground on a four-tire call on his final green-flag pit stop.
Ryan Newman, Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman completed the top 10.
Though Logano led 163 laps, the race wasn’t a cruise for the Team Penske driver. In one hotly contested section of the race, Logano passed Harvick on Lap 148, surrendered the top spot back to Harvick on lap 149 and regained it on lap 150.
But a two-tire call from Logano’s crew chief, Todd Gordon, on a Lap 175 pit stop gained more than five seconds on Harvick, who had taken four tires one lap earlier. Even with the late caution, Harvick couldn’t regain the lost track position on the final two-lap shootout.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race – 51st Annual FireKeepers Casino 400
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Michigan
Monday, June 10, 2019
- (1) Joey Logano, Ford, 203.
- (7) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 203.
- (16) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 203.
- (9) Daniel Suarez, Ford, 203.
- (15) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 203.
- (8) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 203.
- (3) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 203.
- (18) Ryan Newman, Ford, 203.
- (13) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 203.
- (20) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 203.
- (4) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 203.
- (11) Daniel Hemric #, Chevrolet, 203.
- (6) Paul Menard, Ford, 203.
- (22) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 203.
- (19) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 203.
- (31) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 203.
- (2) Aric Almirola, Ford, 203.
- (21) William Byron, Chevrolet, 203.
- (10) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 203.
- (17) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 203.
- (29) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 203.
- (25) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 203.
- (32) Corey LaJoie, Ford, 203.
- (26) Matt Tifft #, Ford, 203.
- (28) Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 203.
- (12) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 202.
- (23) Michael McDowell, Ford, 202.
- (27) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet, 201.
- (30) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 201.
- (36) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 200.
- (14) Erik Jones, Toyota, 199.
- (35) Quin Houff, Chevrolet, 198.
- (34) Josh Bilicki(i), Chevrolet, 197.
- (24) David Ragan, Ford, 195.
- (5) Clint Bowyer, Ford, Accident, 130.
- (33) Kyle Weatherman(i), Ford, Accident, 69.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 140.945 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 52 Mins, 50 Secs. Margin of Victory: .147 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 7 for 35 laps.
Lead Changes: 20 among 11 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Logano 0;D. Hamlin 1-3;J. Logano 4-53;A. Almirola 54;J. Logano 55-113;R. Blaney 114;C. Elliott 115;C. Bowyer 116;A. Dillon 117-123;J. Logano 124-127;K. Harvick 128-135;J. Logano 136-141;K. Harvick 142-147;J. Logano 148;K. Harvick 149;J. Logano 150-174;D. Suarez 175;B. Keselowski 176-181;D. Hamlin 182-183;W. Byron 184-185;J. Logano 186-203.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Joey Logano 7 times for 163 laps; Kevin Harvick 3 times for 15 laps; Austin Dillon 1 time for 7 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 6 laps; Denny Hamlin 2 times for 5 laps; William Byron 1 time for 2 laps; Daniel Suarez 1 time for 1 lap; Chase Elliott 1 time for 1 lap; Ryan Blaney 1 time for 1 lap; Clint Bowyer 1 time for 1 lap; Aric Almirola 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 1,10,19,2,20,21,22,42,88,9
Stage #2 Top Ten: 1,10,18,19,24,3,37,4,8,88
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