Joey Logano Continues Impressive Streak, Earns Fifth NASCAR Nationwide Series Win of Season.

Post Race Highlights:

  • Joey Logano qualified his No. 18 Dollar General Toyota third for Saturday afternoon’s 250-mile event at Michigan International Speedway. He was the top qualifying Joe Gibbs Racing machine.
  • With new pavement and a questionable tire situation, no one knew exactly how the Nationwide Series event would pan out. As the green flew, Logano fell into third and rode for the first portion of the race.
  • By lap 21, Logano had drafted his way up to the front, passing the No. 3 of Austin Dillon to grab the lead for the first time. Logano led the field for the next seven laps before the first round of pit stops.
  • A number of different pit strategies kept Logano and the Dollar General team on their toes all afternoon long. Despite having one of the fastest cars on the track, Logano decided just to ride in second place following the competition caution.
  • On lap 48, crew chief Adam Stevens called for a four tire stop under caution when several other teams elected for two or no tires. That dropped Logano back to ninth when the green waved once again.
  • Logano methodically worked his way back to the front of the field from then on out. He was back in the top-five by lap 73 and was fourth just a few laps later.
  • The final pit stop of the day came under green and when things cycled out, Logano found himself in third, setting his sights on the leaders. On lap 99 Logano moved into second and just three laps later, Logano used lapped traffic to his advantage and passed leader Elliot Sadler.
  • Over the race’s final laps, Logano survived a number of late-race restarts and challenges for the lead. In the end, it was a two-car race between Logano and the No. 30 of James Buescher. Buescher looked to the inside of Logano on the final lap, but the No. 18 proved too strong and Logano pulled away for the victory.
  • The win was Logano’s second-straight NASCAR Nationwide Series win and his fifth of the season (California, Talladega, Darlington, Dover). Logano has now won four of his last five NASCAR Nationwide Series starts. The win matched his career high in victories in a season. He won five races as well in 2009.
  • Logano led a total of 31 laps in the event.
  • The win was the first for Toyota at Michigan International Speedway.
  • The win was crew chief Adam Stevens’ seventh-career Nationwide Series victory.
  • The No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota extended its lead in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner’s point standings. The No. 18 team now has a 47-point advantage over the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing machine and a 55-point lead over the No. 3 of Richard Childress Racing. Logano has won four races behind the wheel of the No. 18.
  • With the win, Dollar General customers will receive 20-percent off their entire online order at DollarGeneral.com this Monday. Offer is good only online at DollarGeneral.com and only this coming Monday.

Logano’s Post-Race Thoughts:

“I’m really pumped about being in Victory Lane here at Michigan. It’s really cool because I felt like we really really had to work for this win out here today. We had a fast Dollar General Toyota, probably the best car out there today. But sometimes just because you have a great car you don’t go right out there and lead a bunch of laps. Sometimes you really have to work for it and the guys out there today made me work for it. There were a lot of good cars out there and they all took their shot. Thankfully there at the end, we just had a bunch of good restarts and we were able to keep the car out front. You have to have a heck of a run going and really draft someone to make the pass. If you were close to the same speed, it was hard to just pull under someone and pass them. That is how were stayed ahead of the No. 30 there on that last restart.

“We are just on a roll right now both on the Cup and Nationwide side. This team is absolutely great and we are clicking on all levels, from at the shop to at the track. I’ve had a lot of confidence in myself lately and my abilities and knowing what I can do with a race car. I feel like I’m feeding my crew chiefs the best information and they’re doing the best job they can do to make the best race cars for me. There hasn’t been an opportunity that we let slip up yet. We’ve been in position to win a race and we’ve capitalized on it every time we’ve been in that position.

“Really excited to get Dollar General back into Victory Lane. That’s three wins for them this year in the Nationwide car. I’d love to get them a win on the Cup side before the year is done as well. And to get the first win for Toyota here at Michigan is pretty special too. All of these manufactures love winning here at Michigan. Hopefully we can just keep this going here in the Nationwide Series and over on the Cup side.”

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