Logano Returns to Victory Lane with Talladega Win

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Joey Logano won the Geico 500 from Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday afternoon.

Logano led a race-high 70 laps, and led a group of Ford drivers who dominated most of the race.  Fords made up six of the top seven spots, and Logano said his victory was due to the Ford drivers working together.

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“Ford teamwork is what did it today,” Logano said.  “Not only with the Team Penske Fords, but all the Fords out there.”

Logano won on Sunday for the first time in a year.  Following his victory last year in Richmond, Logano’s car was found to be illegal by NASCAR and the win could not be used to get into the playoffs.  A string of bad luck followed and Logano missed the playoffs.  With his win on Sunday, Logano punched his ticket to this year’s playoffs. 

Logano said it was a weight off his shoulder to return to victory lane.

“Man, it feels so good to be back in victory lane,” Logano said.  “It feels so good, we don’t have to worry about the playoffs thing; we’re in.”

Kurt Busch was running second in the closing laps, but after getting separated from his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick, his plan to challenge for the victory fell apart.

Busch said he should have done something different in the closing laps to try and pick up the victory.

“I didn’t quite make the right move and it’s a shame,” Busch said.  “It was one of the best Fords I’ve ever had.”

“My plan was to roll with Kevin until the last lap and then slingshot by him on the outside.  Everyone’s just running side-by-side trying to get everything they can…and it didn’t quite materialize.”

Unofficial results:

1. Joey Logano

2. Kurt Busch

3. Chase Elliott

4. Kevin Harvick

5. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

6. David Ragan

7. Aric Almirola

8. Alex Bowman

9. Ryan Newman

10. Daniel Suarez

11. Chris Buescher

12. Jimmie Johnson

13. Kyle Busch

14. Denny Hamlin

15. Ty Dillon

16. Darrell Wallace Jr.

17. Kasey Kahne

18. Ryan Blaney

19. Matt DiBenedetto

20. DJ Kennington

21. Cole Whitt

22. Brendan Gaughan

23. Timothy Peters

24. Gray Gaulding

25. Ross Chastain

26. Martin Truex Jr.

27. Joey Gase

28. Jamie McMurray

29. William Byron

30. Paul Menard

31. Clint Bowyer

32. Michael McDowell

33. Brad Keselowski

34. AJ Allmendinger

35. Austin Dillon

36. Timmy Hill

37. Reed Sorenson

38. Trevor Bayne

39. Erik Jones

40. Kyle Larson

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