Start: 2nd
Finish: 24th

Stage One: 9th
Stage Two: 3rd

Points: 13th

Joey Logano led a race-high 48 laps but ultimately settled for a 24th-place finish Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway. After leading the field to green from the outside of row one, Logano quickly cleared the inside lane to take the lead while protecting runs from all three lanes forming up behind him. Logano found success running the bottom lane and had a strong start to the 500-mile event prior to the start of green flag pit stops on lap 39. Following a fuel-only stop, Logano found himself at the tail-end of the lead pack as the end of Stage 1 approached. A multi-car incident in turn three on the final lap of the 60-lap stage brought an end to the segment while Logano was gaining ground towards the front and successfully avoided the wreck to secure a ninth-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four-tire stop during the stage break, Logano lined up for the restart from the inside of row three and reported a tight-handling condition to begin the run. After jockeying for position in the middle of the pack throughout the run, the Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang hit pit road on lap 105 for fuel only and Logano rode the outside lane up to second in the running order before reclaiming the lead with 10 to go in the stage. Logano ultimately settled for a third-place finish in Stage 2 as the outside lane gained momentum on the final lap of the 60-lap segment. The No. 22 team won the race off pit road with a quick, four-tire stop under caution and maintained the lead for the opening laps of the final stage. Despite being shuffled out of line on lap 150, Logano was scored 10th when the caution flag flew for a multi-car incident in the tri-oval with 27 to go. The No. 22 team opted to take right side tires only under caution to help alleviate a loose-handling condition as Logano lined up to restart ninth. He continued to battle within the top-10 over the course of the final 10 laps, but a multi-car incident in the tri-oval on the final lap thwarted Logano’s momentum as he settled for a 24th-place finish.

“We brought a really solid Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang this weekend but, unfortunately, didn’t have the result to show for it today. We led a lot of laps and had it out front most of the day. It’s tough to have that kind of speed all day and have nothing to show for it in the end. Really glad we were able to get Team Penske back in victory lane today with Blaney and the 12 team – we had solid speed throughout the company and there’s a lot to be proud of there.”

 

WHAT’S NEXT: The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the final race in the Round of 12 on Sunday, October 8. Coverage of the Bank of America ROVAL 400 begins at 2 pm E.T. on NBC, PRN Radio and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.