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Joey Logano dominates NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Fontana

Not even a difference in pit strategy could slow down Joey Logano’s march to victory Saturday.

Race winner Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Discount Tire

Race winner Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Discount Tire

Logan Whitton / NKP / Motorsport Images

Race winner Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Discount Tire
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Discount Tire
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Mustang Discount Tire
Elliott Sadler, JR Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Cessna
Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Hellmann's

Although Logano dominated much of Saturday’s Roseanne 300 at Auto Club Speedway, he was mired in 16th on a restart with 26 of 200 laps remaining, having gotten off-sequence with the rest of the field.

It mattered little.

Within four laps, Logano had powered to the lead and ended up holding off Justin Allgaier to earn his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the season and 29th of his career.

Logano won both stages and led a race-high 139 laps. He also continued a streak at the track dating to 2002 of Xfinity series regulars being unable to crack Victory Lane.

“That just showed how fast our car was,” Logano said of his ability to quickly return to the lead. “What an amazing car. I was the lucky one who got to drive it. I had a lot of fun out there.”

Asked if he was involved in the pit calls, Logano said: “I don’t really weigh into those very much. My job is to drive the car. I know where my weaknesses are and it’s usually calling a race.

“Those guys are way smarter than me. I let them do their job and I do my job and it all kind of works out. It was good to get (a win) in the books.”

Elliott Sadler finished third, Austin Dillon fourth and Daniel Hemric completed the top-five.

A caution for Dylan Lupton’s blown engine with less than 40 laps remaining set up some varied pit strategy. Logano and three others remained on the track while the rest of the lead-lap cars pit for new tires.

On the subsequent caution on Lap 121 for debris in Turn 2, Logano made his stop for new tires but most of the rest of the field stayed out, allowing Allgaier to move into the lead and leaving Logano stuck back in 16th.

With new tires on the restart with 26 to go, Logano moved to ninth after one lap and third after the second. He easily cleared Sadler for the top spot one lap later.

A caution involving Austin Cindric brought set up another restart with eight laps remaining. Ryan Sieg elected to take fuel only and grabbed the lead but Logano reclaimed it before they had cleared the first turn.

Stage 2

Logano led every green-flag lap but ended up claiming the Stage 2 victory under caution.

Logano was on his way to a dominating victory over Tyler Reddick until John Hunter Nemechek blew his right-front tire with one lap remaining in the 35-lap segment. The race did not return to green before the end of the stage.

“I’m really happy with our long-run speed. I just need to figure out how to get some clean air, particularly on the restarts,” Reddick said during the race. “I’m having a blast out here right now.”

Christopher Bell finished third, Sadler fourth and Allgaier completed the top-five.

Logano remained in the lead to begin the second stage after he was the first car off pit road. On the restart, he was followed by Allgaier, Custer, Reddick and Sadler.

With 20 laps remaining in the stage, Logano had moved out to a sizeable lead followed by Allgaier, Cole Custer, Reddick and Bell.

On Lap 56, Austin Cindric made contact with the wall and appeared to suffer right-side damage. There was no caution but he headed to pit road to have his team examine the car.

With 10 laps remaining in the stage, Logano maintained his grip on the lead followed by Reddick, Bell, Sadler and Allgaier.

Stage 1

Logano claimed the Stage 1 victory under caution following a wreck with three of the 35 laps remaining.

Allgaier finished second, Custer third, Sadler fourth and Reddick completed the top-five.

Bell, the pole-sitter, held the lead early but Logano powered around him for the top spot on Lap 5.

With 20 laps remaining in the first stage, Logano led the way followed by Custer and Allgaier.

With 10 laps left in the stage, Logano continued out front followed by Custer, Allgaier, Reddick and Sadler.

On Lap 30, Hemric appeared to hit the wall but there was no caution and he continued on without an issue.

On Lap 32, Matt Mills got into the wall to bring out the first caution of the race. The race was not able to return to green before the conclusion of the stage.

Lupton was forced to start the race from the rear of the field after he wrecked during qualifying on Saturday morning.

Cla#DriverManufacturerLapsTimeLaps LedRetirementPointsbonus
1 22 united_states Joey Logano  Ford 150 2:21'25 139      
2 7 united_states Justin Allgaier  Chevrolet 150 1.429 2   50  
3 1 united_states Elliott Sadler  Chevrolet 150 1.476 4   48  
4 3 united_states Austin Dillon  Chevrolet 150 2.444        
5 21 united_states Daniel Hemric  Chevrolet 150 3.004     39  
6 00 united_states Cole Custer  Ford 150 3.375     44  
7 9 united_states Tyler Reddick  Chevrolet 150 3.439     45  
8 2 united_states Matt Tifft  Chevrolet 150 4.031     29  
9 18 united_states Ryan Preece  Toyota 150 4.124     30  
10 4 united_states Ross Chastain  Chevrolet 150 6.014     29  
11 23 united_states Spencer Gallagher  Chevrolet 150 6.710     26  
12 11 united_states Ryan Truex  Chevrolet 150 7.201     26  
13 19 united_states Brandon Jones  Toyota 150 7.383     24  
14 24 united_states Kaz Grala  Ford 150 7.409     23  
15 51 united_states Jeremy Clements  Chevrolet 150 8.830     22  
16 35 united_states Joey Gase  Chevrolet 150 10.347     21  
17 16 united_states Ryan Reed  Ford 150 10.899     20  
18 5 united_states Michael Annett  Chevrolet 150 13.430     20  
19 36 canada Alex Labbé  Chevrolet 150 18.035     18  
20 39 united_states Ryan Sieg  Chevrolet 150 19.327 1   17  
21 20 united_states Christopher Bell  Toyota 150 21.773 4   29  
22 78 united_states B.J. McLeod  Chevrolet 150 24.948     15  
23 0 united_states Garrett Smithley  Chevrolet 149 1 lap     14  
24 8 united_states Tommy Joe Martins  Chevrolet 149 1 lap     13  
25 90 united_states Josh Williams  Chevrolet 148 2 laps     12  
26 52 united_states David Starr  Chevrolet 148 2 laps     11  
27 01 united_states Vinnie Miller  Chevrolet 148 2 laps     10  
28 60 united_states Austin Cindric  Ford 147 2 laps     9  
29 42 united_states John Hunter Nemechek  Chevrolet 147 2 laps     12  
30 76 united_states Spencer Boyd  Chevrolet 147 2 laps     7  
31 55 united_states Stephen Leicht  Toyota 132 18 laps   Brakes 6  
32 45 united_states Josh Bilicki  Toyota 122 28 laps   Engine 5  
33 28 united_states Dylan Lupton  Ford 109 41 laps   Engine 4  
34 38 united_states J.J. Yeley  Chevrolet 76 74 laps   Power steering 3  
35 66 united_states Timmy Hill  Dodge 56 94 laps   Vibration 2  
36 40 united_states Chad Finchum  Toyota 45 105 laps   Engine 1  
37 15 united_states Matt Mills  Chevrolet 29 121 laps   Accident 1  
38 89 united_states Morgan Shepherd  Chevrolet 22 128 laps   Suspension 1  
39 93 united_states Jeff Green  Chevrolet 10 140 laps   Brakes 1  
40 74 united_states Mike Harmon  Chevrolet 6 144 laps   Engine 1

 

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