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NASCAR Cup Series

Joey Logano Wins Phoenix in Overtime

Joey Logano - photo by Brendon D. Miller - Bluegrass Sports Nation

AVONDALE, Ariz. – March 8, 2020 – ANTHONY HOLBROOK – BSN

No. 22 Joey Logano exhibited patience with experience by declining a late caution pit service opportunity while protecting his late-Lap lead, which included battling against the No. 4 Kevin Harvick Ford.   Unfortunately, Kevin Harvick would finish 2nd while No. 18 Kyle Busch rounded out the top three.  Logano’s 25th NASCAR Cup victory solidifies the Penske Presence in the 2020 Championship playoff.

ISM Raceway is classified as a tri-oval track with variable banking between 9-11 degrees at the corners and a distinctive bend on the backstretch known as “the Dogleg”.  Even though ISM Raceway opened in 1964, NASCAR Cup Series race was not hosted by ISM Raceway until the Checker 500 in 1988.  While viewing a race, Fans are treated with the astonishing dessert scenery.

NASCAR Series will continue to enforce a Modified Package Format for FanShield 500, utilizing a new Modified Spoiler from last year, Supplemental Spacer and (Removal) of Areo Ducts.  The Package Changes are intended to increase horsepower from 550 hp. to 750 hp. which will promoting closer racing while creating downforce to the car.

FanShield 500   Stage 1
No. 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s  track confrontation brought out the first caution of the race on Lap 58.   Kevin Harvick would take advantage of an efficient pit stop to overtake Pole Sitter No. 9 Chase Elliott to the point. 

Checking off 60 of 75 Laps in Sage 1, Chase Elliott settles for second as Harvick claims Stage 1 honors. 

FanShield 500    Stage 1 Results

  1. Brad Keselowski
  2. Kevin Harvick
  3. Martin Truex Jr.
  4. Tyler Reddick
  5. Kyle Busch
  6. Aric Almirola
  7. Joey Logano
  8. Clint Bowyer
  9. Kyle Larson

     10.) Cole Custer

FanShield 500    Stage 2
Kevin Harvick paced the field until a pit stop slip-up (Lap 132) would extinguish his comfortable lead.   Past Cup Champ – Martin Truex Jr. took this opportunity to claim the lead, only to surrender his real-estate  (Lap 140) to a fast approaching Chase Elliott machine.

On Laps 156, Chase Elliott’s experience with loose wheel surrenders the lead to Brad Keselowski.  Brad would pace the field and cruise to his first stage win of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule.  2020 Sunoco Rookie of the Year sensation – No. 8 Tyler Reddick finished an impressive fourth in Stage 2.

FanShield 500    Stage 2 Results

         1.)  Brad Keselowsk

         2.) Kevin Harvick

         3.) Martin Truex Jr.

         4.) Tyler Reddick

         5.) Kyle Bush

         6.) Aric Almirola

         7.) Joey Logano

         8.) Clint Bowyer

         9.) Kyle Larson

         10.) Cole Custer

Final Stage   FanShield 500   

The final 65 Laps of the final Stage featured six caution flags and set up a tire strategy plan for most of the lead lap cars. Brad Keselowski opted not to pit at the beginning of the carnival of caution flags to kept Brad’s No. 12 Ford up front.

Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski would battle for the lead in the final 20 Laps as competitors of newer tires advanced.   While Brad Keselowski fades in the closing Laps, Joey Logona crosses the checker stripe to collect his second victory of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule

For the first time in 2020, Phoenix (ISM Raceway) is the site for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season finale. Joey Logano will be an early odds favorite contender for his 2nd NASCAR Cup Championship Title in three seasons. In 2018, Joey Logano collected his first NASCAR Cup Championship when he passed Martin Truex Jr. late in the race for the marbles.

NASCAR FanShield 500 at Phoenix Results

Pos. Driver  
1 Joey Logano  
2 Kevin Harvick  
3 Kyle Busch  
4 Kyle Larson  
5 Clint Bowyer  
6 Kurt Busch  
7 Chase Elliott  
8 Aric Almirola  
9 Cole Custer  
10 William Byron  
11 Brad Keselowski  
12 Jimmie Johnson  
13 Matt DiBenedetto  
14 Alex Bowman  
15 Ty Dillon  
16 Michael McDowell  
17 Chris Buescher  
18 Ryan Preece  
19 Bubba Wallace  
20 Denny Hamlin  
21 Daniel Duarez  
22 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  
23 Ross Chastain  
24 Christopher Bell  
25 John Hunter Nemechek  
26 JJ Yeley  
27 Corey LaJoie  
28 Erik Jones  
29 Joey Gase  
30 Reed Sorensen  
31 Brennan Poole  
32 Martin Truex Jr.  
33 Tyler Reddick  
34 Quin Houff  
35 Garrett Smithley  
36 Austin Dillon  
37 Ryan Blaney  
38 Timmy Hill  

Time of Race:
3 Hrs, 20 Mins, 50 Secs.

Average Speed:
94.407 MPH

Margin of Victory:
276 Seconds

Caution Flags:
12 for 73 laps; Laps: 59-63 (#47, 53 Incident Turn 2 [38]); 65-71 (#2, 11, 12 Incident Turn 3 and 4 [47]); 77-84 (Stage 1 Conclusion [53]); 132-137 (#3 Incident Turn 3 [96]); 190-199 (Possible fluid on frontstretch from #51, Stage 2 Conclusion [9]); 215-221 (#00 Incident Turn 2 [96]); 253-258 (#20 Incident Turn 2 [95]); 266-271 (#8 Incident Turn 2 [34]); 278-282 (#17 Incident Turn 1 [52]); 284-288 (#19, 10, 48 Incident Turn 1 [11]); 305-308 (#6, 41, 24 Incident Frontstretch [43]); 311-314 (#47, 38 Incident Frontstretch [43]).

Lead Changes:
20 among 7 drivers; C. Elliott 1-60; K. Harvick 61-91; C. Elliott 92-102; K. Harvick 103-132; C. Elliott 133-137; M. Truex Jr. 138-140; C. Elliott 141-155; B. Keselowski 156-193; C. Buescher 194; B. Keselowski 195-215; C. Elliott 216; M. Truex Jr. 217-224; J. Logano 225-250; K. Harvick 251-254; C. Elliott 255; K. Harvick 256-257; J. Logano 258-267; B. Keselowski 268-271; K. Larson 272-273; B. Keselowski 274-292; J. Logano 293-316.

Race 5 of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule travels to Atlanta Motor Speedway,    Sunday March 15 2020,  2:00  p.m.  for the Folds of Honor  QuickTrip 500     FOX     MRN

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