FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT INFO:
Jeremy Troiano, (704) 726-6849
jeremy.troiano@mcg-sports.com
Logano and #20 GameStop Toyota Makes Two-Lap Charge
from 10th to 2nd in Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway
Joey Logano and the #20 GameStop / Skate 3 team charged from 10th to second over the final two laps in Sunday’s Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway to earn his second-straight runner-up finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The finish kept Logano seventh in the drivers point standings, despite running in only seven of the season’s first eight races. The second-place run also moved the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team up to third in the owner’s point standings, just 71 points out of the top spot.
Logano started the race 15th, but quickly moved his #20 GameStop Toyota into the top-10 and eventually into the top-five. Logano was able to avoid the first of the “big ones” just prior to the competition caution and brought his car to the attention of the crew. Once the race restarted, Logano found himself in the lead by lap 41.
Things got a little more difficult when the team came in for a two-time pit stop on lap 48 and left the pits with the gas can still attached. Logano had to come back to pit road to serve a penalty and restarted the race in the 31st position. However, Logano made quick work of the competition, fighting his way from 31st to fifth in a matter of five laps.
The #20 GameStop team found themselves just in front of another of the “big ones” and lined up 10th for the final restart, which would result in a two-lap “green-white-checker” finish. With little drafting help behind him, Logano put on a restrictor-place clinic, pushing the eventual winner Brad Keselowski to the front and charging from 10th to second in just a lap and a half before another multi-car accident froze the field prior the finish and locking Logano in the runner-up position.
Kevin Harvick, Jason Keller and Johnny Borneman III rounded out the top-five finishers. Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was involved in one of the race’s several multi-car accidents and finished 34th.
Joey Logano Talks:
“We had a car that could push others to the front but was not much of a car that could be pushed. This time around, I was able to push Brad to the front and get him the win. Last year, I pushed David Ragan to the win here. Sometime maybe someone can push me to the lead. That would be pretty cool.
“I really had a lot of fun out there. I just wish we would have been in a little bit better of a position for that green-white-checker. When we restarted 10th and looked at the cars that were behind us, I thought we had no chance to get up there to contend. But I got a good run with my GameStop car and the holes just opened up and before you knew it, we were right there. I’m glad we made the moves we made though because we missed being swept up in the last lap wreck. That was big. When I saw the replay I was like ‘whoa.’ I’m glad no one got hurt.
“I really wish we could have won, but a second-place is better than what I thought we were looking at. It is what it is at this point. I’ll take it, and we’ll head on to Richmond.”
Kevin Kidd Quotes:
“I’m just ecstatic to come out of here with the finish that we did. These guys really worked their butts off and gave Joey a great car and then he delivered on that last restart. I came over the radio and I told him I believed in him and that he could do it and he proved it right there.
“We painted him in a little bit of a corner in the middle portion of the race with the problem we had on the pit stop, but Joey knew he had a good car and didn’t let it get him down. We regrouped as a team, kept our heads held high and it paid off in the end. This GameStop team never lets the mistakes get us down and we kept after it. All in all, it was a good day and to come out of Talladega with car pretty much in one piece and a second-place finish isn’t a bad day at the office.”
Brian Lindley (Skate 3 Producer) Thoughts:
“It was great to get to see the Skate 3 car in person and to watch Joey take that car from the back to the front and be right there at the end of the race. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined seeing a car out there on the track with our game on it, let alone seeing it lead the race and be in contention for the win. Joey is a great kid and a heck of a racecar driver, and the entire GameStop team is second-to-none. It was an awesome experience that is for sure.”
What’s Next:
The #20 GameStop Toyota along with Logano will go from the superspeedway to the short track next weekend, when the NASCAR Nationwide Series heads to Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, VA for the Bubba Burger 250 on Friday night, April 30. The GameStop Toyota will carry the Disney Interactive Studios game “Split/Second” in Richmond.
|