{"id":22978,"date":"2018-11-18T20:50:38","date_gmt":"2018-11-19T02:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=22978"},"modified":"2018-11-19T08:05:03","modified_gmt":"2018-11-19T14:05:03","slug":"late-charge-gives-joey-logano-homestead-victory-and-first-cup-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/18\/late-charge-gives-joey-logano-homestead-victory-and-first-cup-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Late charge gives Joey Logano Homestead victory and first Cup championship"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

HOMESTEAD, Fla. \u2013 On Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it was \u201cThe Big Three and Me\u201d \u2014 with the \u201cMe\u201d being Joey Logano<\/strong> waging vehicular war against the three most prolific winners in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Now \u201cMe\u201d is a champion.<\/p>\n

In a thrilling finish that featured all four Championship 4 drivers battling for the race victory and the title\u2014and finishing 1-2-3-4 in the Ford EcoBoost 400\u2014Logano charged past defending series champion Martin Truex Jr. on Lap 256 of 267 and pulled away to win his first championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, my God, yes!\u201d Logano screamed on his radio as his No. 22 Team Penske Ford flashed across the finish line 1.725 seconds ahead of Truex, establishing a handful of milestones in the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did it! We won the championship! I can\u2019t believe it. I don’t know what to say. This team, (owner) Roger Penske, (crew chief) Todd Gordon, the pit crew. Oh, my God! They gave me the car I needed at the end to do my job. Put me in position to do my job. I couldn\u2019t be more proud of them. We won the championship! Oh, my God!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The victory was Logano\u2019s third of the season, his first at the 1.5-mile track and the 21st of his career. With the win, he sealed the first manufacturer\u2019s championship for Ford since 2002 and the first driver\u2019s championship for the car maker since Kurt Busch won the first Playoffs in 2004.<\/p>\n

It was the first title for the Ford Fusion. It was the last title for the Ford Fusion, which will be replaced by the Mustang in the Cup series next season. It was the second championship for Penske, who got his first in 2012 when Brad Keselowski beat Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson for the top prize in stock car racing.<\/p>\n

Keselowski figured prominently in Sunday\u2019s outcome, but not as a contender. With 21 laps left, Truex passed Logano for third place and took off in pursuit of eventual third-place finisher Kevin Harvick, who was running second at the time, with Kyle Busch holding the lead on old tires, hoping for a caution.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

On Lap 247, Busch\u2019s prayer was answered. Contact from Keselowski\u2019s Ford sent the Toyota of Daniel Suarez spinning to cause the fifth caution of the race. That yellow flag changed everything. Busch got the caution he needed to get back into contention, and Logano got the chance he needed to win the championship.<\/p>\n

Busch was first off pit road and led the field to green on Lap 253, but Truex surged past him in the first corner with Logano following into second place. Three laps later, Logano made a breathtaking charge into Turn 1 and sped around Truex to the outside. Game over.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy car was really good on entry all day,\u201d Logano said, in what may be the understatement of Ford Championship Weekend.<\/p>\n

The victory was the culmination of week in which Logano had declared himself the favorite despite his total of two victories entering the race, compared with eight each for Harvick and Busch and four for Truex.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were the favorite, like I told you before the race started,\u201d Logano said in Victory Lane. \u201cI\u2019m so proud of everybody for rising to the occasion. We executed down the stretch like nobody\u2019s business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, lead a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

In his excitement after taking the checkered flag, Logano thought he had pulled a muscle, but the pain was well worth it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan, I worked my whole life to get here,\u201d Logano said. \u201cTo win a championship. We\u2019ve been so close. It has been 10 seasons of fighting for this. I wasn\u2019t sure we were going to get it, but Todd made a good adjustment at the end, and we had that no-quit attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notes: Keselowski finished fifth behind Kyle Busch, the last of the four title contenders\u2026 Matt Kenseth ran sixth in his last trip in the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford\u2026 Jimmie Johnson was 14th in his last race with crew chief Chad Knaus, ending a 17-year pairing that produced a record-tying seven championships\u2026 Driving the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet for the last time as a full-time driver, Jamie McMurray came home 18th, the last driver on the lead lap\u2026 AJ Allmendinger was 19th in his final ride in the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Chevrolet\u2026 Suarez, who is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing at season\u2019s end, came home 30th after the Lap 247 wreck.<\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Joey Logano – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Miami_MENCS_Logano_111818.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Crew chief Todd Gordon and team owner Roger Penske – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Miami_MENCS_Penske_Gordon_111818.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Miami_MENCS_KyBusch_Harvick_TruexJr_111818.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR President Steve Phelps – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Miami_Phelps_111818.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hunter Hayes – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Miami_MENCS_Hayes_111818.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Josh Dallas, Ford EcoBoost Grand Marshal – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Miami_MENCS_Dallas_111818.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Driver’s Meeting – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Miami_MENCS_DriversMeeting_111818.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race – Ford EcoBoost 400<\/strong><\/p>\n

Homestead-Miami Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Homestead, Florida<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, November 18, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

                1. (5) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                2. (3) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                3. (12) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                4. (2) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                5. (4) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                6. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                7. (14) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                8. (26) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                9. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                10. (6) Kurt Busch, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                11. (16) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                12. (1) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 267.<\/p>\n

                13. (11) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                14. (19) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                15. (8) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                16. (9) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                17. (15) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 267.<\/p>\n

                18. (21) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 267.<\/p>\n

                19. (20) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 266.<\/p>\n

                20. (25) David Ragan, Ford, 266.<\/p>\n

                21. (23) Bubba Wallace #, Chevrolet, 266.<\/p>\n

                22. (31) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 266.<\/p>\n

                23. (27) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 266.<\/p>\n

                24. (28) William Byron #, Chevrolet, 266.<\/p>\n

                25. (22) Paul Menard, Ford, 265.<\/p>\n

                26. (29) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 264.<\/p>\n

                27. (7) Erik Jones, Toyota, 264.<\/p>\n

                28. (24) Michael McDowell, Ford, 263.<\/p>\n

                29. (13) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 263.<\/p>\n

                30. (18) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 262.<\/p>\n

                31. (32) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 262.<\/p>\n

                32. (33) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 261.<\/p>\n

                33. (39) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 259.<\/p>\n

                34. (34) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 259.<\/p>\n

                35. (36) BJ McLeod(i), Ford, 256.<\/p>\n

                36. (35) * Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 256.<\/p>\n

                37. (38) * Timmy Hill(i), Toyota, 254.<\/p>\n

                38. (37) * Tanner Berryhill, Toyota, 254.<\/p>\n

                39. (30) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 240.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  133.056 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 00 Mins, 36 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.725 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  5 for 26 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  22 among 7 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   D. Hamlin 1-36; M. Truex Jr. (P) 37-39; M. McDowell 40-41; D. Hamlin 42; K. Harvick (P) 43-82; K. Larson 83; K. Harvick (P) 84-86; K. Larson 87-90; J. Logano (P) 91-104; K. Larson 105-117; K. Harvick (P) 118-119; M. Truex Jr. (P) 120; D. Hamlin 121-124; K. Larson 125-147; K. Harvick (P) 148-159; K. Larson 160-163; J. Logano (P) 164-166; K. Harvick (P) 167; J. Logano (P) 168-218; M. Truex Jr. (P) 219-230; K. Busch (P) 231-251; M. Truex Jr. (P) 252-255; J. Logano (P) 256-267.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  J. Logano (P) 4 times for 80 laps; K. Harvick (P) 5 times for 58 laps; K. Larson 5 times for 45 laps; D. Hamlin 3 times for 41 laps; K. Busch (P) 1 time for 21 laps; M. Truex Jr. (P) 4 times for 20 laps; M. McDowell 1 time for 2 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 4,42,18,22,78,11,10,20,2,41<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 42,4,22,78,10,18,41,11,48,14<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service HOMESTEAD, Fla. \u2013 On Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it was \u201cThe Big Three and Me\u201d \u2014 with the \u201cMe\u201d being Joey Logano waging vehicular war against the three most prolific winners in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Now \u201cMe\u201d is a champion. In a thrilling finish that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":22986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[527,154,16],"class_list":["post-22978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-homestead-miami-speedway","tag-joey-logano","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/358661-e1542598756756.jpg?fit=640%2C449&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-5YC","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22978"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23005,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22978\/revisions\/23005"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}