Joey Logano won the third Annual STP 300, his 20th victory in 118 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Logano’s 20th series victory ties him with Greg Biffle for 15th on the all-time wins list. Sam Hornish Jr, Austin Dillon, Elliott Sadler and Brian Vickers rounded out the top-5.
Hornish Jr won the pole for his first time this year and led them to the green flag. They waved the it and right when they passed the start finish line, caution came out. The reason for it? The No.52 of Joey Gase had his oil pump came off which blew his engine and the yellow came out really early in this Sunday matinee.
They really started the race on lap 8 with Hornish Jr clearing Sadler and leading the first green flag lap. By lap 33, Hornish Jr had a 1.494 over Sadler and a 4.676 second lead over Vickers. Hornish had lapped all the way up to 24th position.
The second caution waved on lap 48 when the No.23 of Harrison Rhodes blew up on the bottom of turn 3. All of the leaders came into for their first pit stops of the day. Sadler barely beat Hornish Jr off pit road followed by Logano, Bayne, Vickers and Dillon. Hornish Jr got caught for speeding on pit road so the dominate car so far will have to restart at the back of the field.
Sadler led the field to the green flag followed by Logano, Bayne, Vickers, Dillon and Crafton. Logano took the lead on the low side but Sadler got it back and Dillon overtook Logano for second. Hornish was up to 12th on lap 68 when he restarted in the back due to speeding.
Sadler led at halfway and had a 1.699 cushion over Dillon, Logano and Vickers. Green flag pit stops occurred two laps later with the leading starting them. Sadler got some adjustments with four tires but had some trouble with the fuel and cost them some time. Scott, Dillon and Hornish Jr all came in a lap later. Hornish Jr had been flying and wanted no changes.
Third caution came out when the No.60 of Travis Pastrana blew a tire and smacked the wall. There is nobody that can not make it all the way but Smith and Joey Coulter came in to top off.
They went back to green on lap 119 with Dillon leading them to the stripe. Dillon continued with the lead but Sadler was right behind him looking for it. The green flag did not last long as the championship leader, Regan Smith, spun onto the front stretch grass and the yellow came out. All of the leaders came in to get as much fuel as they can get in. Logano only took two tires and came out with the lead. Dillon, Sadler and Hornish Jr followed him out of pit lane. Vickers lost five spots during that exchange.
Kyle Larson led the field back to the green flag as he and Mike Bliss did not pit. They went back to green and Bliss just shot back into the field. Larson led for couple laps but then surrendered it to Logano. Logano led but Sadler got up to him and tried to take the lead back which made Hornish Jr get closer to make it a three way battle for the lead.
The fourth caution waved for the No.19 of Bliss who spun out trying to get onto pit road. Everybody will be coming in to get their last stop for fuel and tires. Everyone took four tires but Sadler kept the lead off pit road. Vickers again lost spots on pit road. He does not have his regular pit crew as they are a sprint cup crew and have a bye week so they have the Red Horse Racing truck pit crew team.
They went back to green with Sadler leading and it got crazy! Logano, Sadler and Hornish Jr all went three wide and Dillon tried to make it four wide! Hornish Jr took the lead when they are settled down but then the No.40 car of Reed Sorenson blew his engine and the caution waved once again.
They went back to racing with 15 laps to go and Hornish and Logano were battling it out for the lead. Hornish was getting closer and closer but could just not finish the deal.
