Joey Logano survives NASCAR Overtime in Michigan

Joey Logano wins at Michigan
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When Joey Logano starts on the pole at Michigan International Speedway, it usually means he ends the race in the same position – out front. It happened again in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 when he held off Kurt Busch and Martin Truex, Jr. to win in overtime.

Logano, Truex and Busch were ready for a green flag shootout before a caution with four laps to go because of Erik Jones suffering a flat tire and spinning. The yellow flag forced overtime and two laps of white knuckle driving. Logano got the jump and pulled out to the lead, but Busch was closing in from the third position. As they came to the finish line, Logano went to the middle and Busch dove low. In the end, it was Logano taking the checkered flag by 0.147 seconds.

“This one, outside of the crown jewel events I consider this the biggest race to win because it is Ford Motor Company’s backyard and Roger Penske’s backyard," Logano said. “The area has a lot of diehard Ford fans, fans here in the grandstands right now and it feels great to represent that company and get to victory lane today."

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]It marked Logano’s third career win at Michigan International Speedway and all three have been when he started on the pole. More importantly, it meant that Ford Performance retained the Michigan Heritage for the third consecutive race.

“This is a big deal for us at Ford Motor Company, all our employees and fans around the world," Ford Performance NASCAR Program Manager Pat DiMarco said. We had dinner on Thursday night, all the drivers with Edsel Ford who invited all of us up to Henry Ford’s original estate. We had a private dinner and it was nice to be there with a Ford family member and he reminded us all that we win 50-percent of the races here at MIS. He said he wanted to bring this trophy home again and we did. I think Joey out there in victory lane said we are at 51-percent now for Mr. Ford."

Logano started the race on the pole and quickly showed he was the car to beat. But he was never able to get away from the field. Logano led the first 20 laps before the first competition caution because of overnight rain.

Logano and Kevin Harvick were the class of the field early. Harvick suffered a slow pit stop during the first pit stop. And then with nine laps to go in the first stage he had a left tire issue forcing an unscheduled pit stop. He came out of the pits a lap down.

It did not take Harvick long to make his way back to the front. By the end of the second stage, Harvick was second and primed to make his move. The leaders had to make green flag pits stops at the end of the second stage for a splash of fuel. Austin Dillon played his cards correctly and took the green and white checkered flag.

Roger Penske winning everything in 2019
Roger Penske winning everything in 2019

The fast-paced action returns to Michigan International Speedway in August for a pair of races. The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200 is scheduled Aug. 10 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 is Aug. 11.

It has never been easier to purchase tickets and camping at Michigan International Speedway in 2019. Fans can visit www.mispeedway.com or call 888-905-7223 to get the best deals. Grandstand tickets start at $39 for the Consumers Energy 400 on Aug. 11.

Any guest who purchases a 12 and under ticket will automatically receive a free kids Pit and Driver Introduction Pass courtesy of Henry Ford Health System. Kids can experience pit road on Sunday morning, sign the start/finish line and view the cars and teams up close on race day. Kids will also have access to pre-race ceremonies, including driver introductions.

Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is NASCAR’s Most Entertaining Track. It has been the love of NASCAR racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike for 50 years.

Results

Fin St # Driver Sponsor / Owner Car Laps Status
1 1 22 Joey Logano Shell / Pennzoil (Roger Penske) Ford 203 running
2 7 1 Kurt Busch Monster Energy (Chip Ganassi) Chevrolet 203 running
3 16 19 Martin Truex, Jr. Auto-Owners Insurance (Joe Gibbs) Toyota 203 running
4 9 41 Daniel Suarez Haas Automation Demo Day (Stewart Haas Racing) Ford 203 running
5 15 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Hazelnut (Joe Gibbs) Toyota 203 running
6 8 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite (Roger Penske) Ford 203 running
7 3 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light (Stewart Haas Racing) Ford 203 running
8 18 6 Ryan Newman Coca-Cola Patriotic (Jack Roush) Ford 203 running
9 13 12 Ryan Blaney Menards / Wrangler Riggs (Roger Penske) Ford 203 running
10 20 88 Alex Bowman Nationwide (Rick Hendrick) Chevrolet 203 running
11 4 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight (Joe Gibbs) Toyota 203 running
12 11 8 Daniel Hemric Chevrolet Accessories (Richard Childress) Chevrolet 203 running
13 6 21 Paul Menard Menards / NIBCO (Wood Brothers) Ford 203 running
14 22 42 Kyle Larson Credit One Bank (Chip Ganassi) Chevrolet 203 running
15 19 48 Jimmie Johnson Ally (Rick Hendrick) Chevrolet 203 running
16 31 37 Chris Buescher Kroger "Thrill of the Grill" (JTG-Daugherty Racing) Chevrolet 203 running
17 2 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield / Meijer (Stewart Haas Racing) Ford 203 running
18 21 24 William Byron Hendrick Autoguard (Rick Hendrick) Chevrolet 203 running
19 10 17 R. Stenhouse, Jr. NOS Energy (Jack Roush) Ford 203 running
20 17 9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts (Rick Hendrick) Chevrolet 203 running
21 29 95 Matt DiBenedetto Toyota Express Maintenance (Leavine Family Racing) Toyota 203 running
22 25 13 Ty Dillon Twisted Tea (Germain Racing) Chevrolet 203 running
23 32 32 Corey LaJoie Harvest Investments (Archie St. Hilaire) Ford 203 running
24 26 36 Matt Tifft Surface Sunscreen / Surfacecorp.com (Bob Jenkins) Ford 203 running
25 28 47 Ryan Preece Kroger / Creamette / Viva (JTG-Daugherty Racing) Chevrolet 203 running
26 12 3 Austin Dillon Dow Salutes Veterans (Richard Childress) Chevrolet 202 running
27 23 34 Michael McDowell Melling Performance / Dockside Logistics Ford 202 running
28 27 43 Bubba Wallace Victory Junction (Richard Petty Motorsports) Chevrolet 201 running
29 30 00 Landon Cassill Superior Essex (StarCom Racing) Chevrolet 201 running
30 36 15 Garrett Smithley Victory Lane Quick Oil Change (Jay Robinson) Chevrolet 200 running
31 14 20 Erik Jones Craftsman / Sport Clips (Joe Gibbs) Toyota 199 running
32 35 77 Quin Houff Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 198 running
33 34 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing (Rick Ware) Chevrolet 197 running
34 24 38 David Ragan Citgard Heavy Duty Engine Oil (Bob Jenkins) Ford 195 running
35 5 14 Clint Bowyer Haas Automation / ITsavvy (Stewart Haas Racing) Ford 130 crash
36 33 51 Kyle Weatherman Jacob Companies (Rick Ware) Ford 69 crash

* Race extended to 203 laps due to overtime.

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