· Joey Logano started 28th and battled handling conditions throughout Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway, ultimately brining the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang home in the 11th position. Logano is sixth in the series standings entering the first elimination race next week at the Charlotte ROVAL.
· After starting 28th, Logano gained five spots in the opening 10 laps, reporting the Shell-Pennzoil Mustang was tight. As the opening run progressed, the handling continued to get tighter while Logano worked to maintain. Unfortunately, Logano would fall a lap down on lap 72, while running in the 20th position. He finished the first stage a lap down and in the 24th position.
· A quick caution at the beginning of Stage 2 would secure the free pass for Logano, putting the Shell-Pennzoil Ford back on the lead lap. Under the caution, the team elected to pit again for four tires and a trackbar adjustment. After the adjustments, Logano reported the car took off better, but was still progressing to the tight side. The condition continued to intensify resulting in Logano dropping off the lead lap once again.
· A caution flag on lap 243 would secure the free pass for the second time of the night. The team elected to make additional air pressure adjustments, still looking to give Logano more turn and help keep the front tires turning longer into the run.
· With all the adjustments made, Logano began working his way forward, reaching the 13th position by lap 285. The driver of the Shell-Pennzoil Ford reported the car was much better, but still needed a little more front turn. A caution flag on lap 315 would bring the team back to pit road to make an additional trackbar and air pressure adjustment.
· Logano would restart in the 13th position. He quickly moved up to 12th where he’d run for most of the run, reporting the Shell-Pennzoil Ford was slightly free on corner exit. The race would remain green to completion, with Logano bringing the Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang home in the 11th position.

 

“It was a rough night. We missed it at the start. I don’t know where. We were decent in practice and on the long run I thought we were pretty good, and we go to qualify, and we were tight, and then we start the race and we’re really tight. We put so many rounds and air-pressure and we hit everything we could hit to try to get the tight out of it. We got better and we went from not being able to stay on the lead lap and getting a couple lucky dogs and then towards the end we got semi-competitive. I wouldn’t say we were good, but a little closer to where we need to be. Overall, I think we had a 50-point cushion, I believe, over the cutline, so that’s a nice feeling going into the ROVAL. Maybe we can be a little more aggressive and try to get something there.”