Backstretch Motorsports

Racing veteran Randy Lajoie reportedly is responsible for handing Joey Lagano the title of ‘The Hottest Thing Since Sliced Bread’ and he has lived up to his moniker. In the era where the youngest of the Young Guns are starting to make noise, Lagano has been surrounded by the loudest shouts of being the ‘real deal’.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise as Lagano is already a multi-time champion in several different racing disciplines, starting with karting at age six.

All eyes have been on him. The throngs have been asking when will be his first.

He answered all tonight, in dominant fashion.

At Kentucky Speedway’s Meijer 300 presented by Oreo, at 18 years, 21 days old, the youngster from Middletown, Connecticut broke the age record of 18 years, 10 months, 9 days set by Casey Atwood in Milwaukee in 1999 in only his third NASCAR Nationwide start for Joe Gibbs Racing .

He is the eight different race winner and eighth different pole winner at Kentucky Speedway.

Logano won the pole for the 300-miler, his second in as many weeks, and led 76 of the 200 laps, second only to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch. Busch led a race-high 85 laps.

Logano took the lead from Busch on Lap 147, passing him on the outside of Turn 4. On Lap 164, Busch’s charge to reclaim the position ended after he lost control of his Toyota on the backstretch, spinning and slamming the outside retaining wall.

Busch started the event 43rd after flying into Kentucky following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Michigan. He slid into the lead for the first time on Lap 40.

Following Busch’s wreck, the race was Logano’s to lose. With the race running green flag to the finish thereafter, Logano crossed the finish line 2.259 seconds over second place Scott Wimmer.

“It was unfortunate to see Kyle hit the fence there,” Logano said. “The whole last 20 laps I was praying it would go green.”

The win was the 10th overall on the season for Joe Gibbs Racing and the seventh for the No. 20 team, with four different drivers, led by Dave Rogers.

“When you are in good equipment, you are going to run well,” Wimmer said. “Joey is a great driver. The 20 car has been the class of the Nationwide Series all year long. We need to do our homework.”

“Three starts, two poles, one win. He’s okay,” Rogers said of young Logano with a smile.

Mike Wallace picked up a position to finish third at the finish after Jason Leffler lost a tire on the last lap. Leffler finished 16th.

Nashville winner Brad Keselowski and rookie Bryan Clauson finished fourth and fifth. Clauson who turns 19 on Sunday, notched his career-best finish. Keselowski is now second in the point standings behind leader Clint Bowyer.

Marcos Ambrose, David Ragan, Mike Bliss, Bowyer and Jason Keller rounded out the top 10.

Race attendance was a track-record 73,195. It was the eighth straight sellout at the facility in which Speedway Motorsports Inc. agreed to purchase earlier this year.

Logano’s father, Tom, watched from the pits as his son carefully guided his No. 20 car over the final laps at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, then celebrated with what he called the best Father’s Day present ever.

Logano, who finished sixth in his Nationwide Series debut at Dover in May and won the pole last week at Nashville before ending up 31st, said he welcomes the pressure that comes with being the sport’s next great hope. He certainly looked comfortable against his elders, driving flawlessly while leading 76 laps, including the final 54.

“This team is amazing.” said a jubilant Lagano in Victory Lane. “It’s just amazing. We unloaded not where we wanted to, but no one gave up. This team worked really hard and got the win out of this thing. It’s pretty awesome to get my first win now.”

Clint Bowyer retained the lead in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings leading Brad Keselowski by 170 points.

Race Results
Kentucky Speedway
Meijer 300 presented by Oreo

UNOFFICIAL
Fin Str Car Driver Team Lap Pts BPts Status TLd LLd
1 1 20 Joey Logano GameStop Toyota 200 190 5 Running 5 76
2 9 29 Scott Wimmer Holiday Inn Chevrolet 200 175 5 Running 1 3
3 16 7 Mike Wallace GEICO Toyota 200 165 Running
4 13 88 Brad Keselowski NAVY Chevrolet 200 160 Running
5 6 40 Bryan Clauson # Fastenal Dodge 200 155 Running
6 3 59 Marcos Ambrose STP Ford 200 155 5 Running 1 5
7 26 6 David Ragan Discount Tire Ford 200 146 Running
8 15 1 Mike Bliss Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet 200 142 Running
9 25 2 Clint Bowyer Camping World/RVs.com 200 138 Running
10 2 11 Jason Keller America’s Incredible Pizza 200 139 5 Running 1 22
11 8 5 Landon Cassill # National Guard Chevrolet 200 130 Running
12 4 64 David Stremme Atreus Homes & Communities 200 127 Running
13 14 99 David Reutimann Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota 200 129 5 Running 1 1
14 17 32 James Buescher DEFT Toyota 200 121 Running
15 5 27 Brad Coleman Cottonelle/Meijer Ford 200 118 Running
16 10 38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Toyota 200 115 Running
17 24 66 Steve Wallace Jimmy John’s Chevrolet 199 112 Running
18 12 33 Cale Gale # RoadLoan Chevrolet 199 109 Running
19 11 47 Kelly Bires Clorox Ford 199 106 Running
20 30 60 Carl Edwards CitiFinancial Ford 198 103 Running
21 20 25 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Curly’s/John Morrell Ford 198 100 Running
22 18 70 Mark Green ForeTravel/BIOMET Chevrolet 198 97 Running
23 19 22 Josh Wise Supercuts Dodge 198 99 5 Running 1 7
24 31 61 Kevin Lepage Long John Silver’s Chevrolet 198 91 Running
25 29 30 Stanton Barrett Grandstay.net Chevrolet 198 93 5 Running 1 1
26 34 81 D.J. Kennington Mahindra Tractors/NPP Dodge 196 85 Running
27 38 52 Brad Teague Chevrolet 189 82 Running
28 41 24 Eric McClure Hefty Brand Chevrolet 188 79 Running
29 32 28 Kenny Wallace US Border Patrol Chevrolet 169 76 Running
30 7 18 Kyle Busch Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota 163 83 10 Accident 4 85
31 35 4 Derrike Cope JVC Chevrolet 97 70 Vibration
32 23 37 Burney Lamar Ford 52 67 Electrical
33 28 02 Andy Ponstein Stott Classic Racing Chevrolet 41 64 Ignition
34 43 31 Kenny Hendrick Grandstay.net Chevrolet 31 61 Vibration
35 36 92 Brian Keselowski # Dodge 31 58 Handling
36 37 90 Johnny Chapman Chevrolet 23 55 Rearend
37 27 49 Kertus Davis Chevrolet 23 52 Vibration
38 21 91 Justin Hobgood Chevrolet 19 49 Transmission
39 39 9 Chase Miller # Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper 11 46 Accident
40 40 01 Dwayne Leik sponsordavis.com/Hyatt Place 6 43 Electrical
41 22 73 Larry Gunselman Dodge 5 40 Transmission
42 33 0 Danny Efland sponsordavis.com Chevrolet 0 37 Handling
43 42 89 Morgan Shepherd Victory in Jesus Racing Dodge 0 34 Ignition

# = Rookie, Fin = Finish, Str = Start, Pts = Total Points, BPs = Lap Leader Bns Pts, TLd = Times Led, LLd = Laps Led
Average Speed: 135.508 MPH Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 12 Mins, 50 Secs. Margin of Victory: 2.259 Seconds
Lead Changes: 14 among 8 drivers Cautions: 5 for 25 laps Attendance: 73,195