Joey Logano and the No. 12 REV Ford Mustang team hit the jackpot at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, winning the Boyd Gaming 300 on Saturday afternoon. Remarkably, it was the second consecutive win for crew chief Brian Wilson, and third consecutive win for the part-time entry overall, as the team won races last season at Watkins Glen and Charlotte. The team unloaded with an extremely fast REV Mustang on Friday afternoon as Logano turned top-five practice speeds in both practice sessions, before qualifying the car in fourth position on Saturday morning. At the drop of the green flag, Logano raced with teammate Brad Keselowski for the first 45 laps as the duo would finish third and fourth respectively at the end of the first stage. Logano was battling a loose condition throughout the first run which led Wilson to make wholesale changes to the No. 12 Ford on the first stop of the race. Adjusting with wedge, air pressure, and adding tape to the nose Logano restarted the race in the second position after quick work from his No. 22 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pit. The pit stop gained the team a spot leaving pit road, moving the No. 12 Ford to the second position. Logano continued to run in the second position until a lap 79 caution led to a Brian Wilson pit call that ultimately would position the team to take the lead at the end of the second stage. Logano restarted in the 15th position and raced his way forward nine positions before the end of the segment. The five competitors in front of the No. 12 Ford pitted under caution which moved Logano to the top-spot, where he would remain for the majority of the event. The team made no further adjustments to the REV Mustang for the afternoon, pitting for only tires and fuel for the remaining stops. After a perfectly executed green flag stop at lap 143, Logano regained the lead at the end of the cycle and never relinquished it despite having to survive four late race restarts where he was challenged by fellow Cup Series competitors: Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez. Logano would use his skills in side drafting and air manipulation to move ahead of the field on the final restart, claiming Team Penske’s first NASCAR XFINITY Series win of the season. The win came in Logano’s first career start in the series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“It was hard to figure out what to do and what lane to pick, but the one thing we did know was we had a very fast REV Ford Mustang. Brian Wilson and all the guys that bring this 12 car out, that’s three wins in a row for this 12 car, so that’s something I’m proud to be a part of and work with these guys. Man, it’s a lot of fun to have these Team Penske cars fast again in this XFINITY Series. Man, it feels good. Those restarts were crazy, though. You don’t know what lane to pick. It depends on who is a good pusher, trying to remember what was going on the last one, but, overall, I’ve got to thank Discount Tire, Snap-On, PPG, Shell/Pennzoil, Coke, Wheels Up, everyone that helps us out with this whole Team Penske organization. I’m proud of it.”