NASCAR XFINITY Series Race Report
Track: Watkins Glen International
Race: Zippo 200
Date: August 6, 2016
No. 12 Snap-on Ford Mustang – Joey Logano
Start: 1st
Finish: 1st (26th career NXS victory)
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 82/82
Laps Led: 67
Owner’s Points Position (behind leader): N/A
Recap: Joey Logano drove the No. 12 Snap-on Tools Ford Mustang from the pole to victory lane in Saturday afternoon’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International claiming the first NASCAR XFINITY Series win for Team Penske in 2016. Logano, who won the pole for the 200-mile event led three times for a total of 67 laps on the way to claiming his 26th career NASCAR XFINITY Series victory and the second consecutive at Watkins Glen. The No. 12 Snap-on Tools Ford Mustang proved early to be the class of the field as Logano led the opening 16 laps before crew chief Greg Erwin called him to pit road for the first of two pit stops. On the first stop, the team worked on the loose handling condition with air pressure and track bar adjustments. Logano would race his way from the 17th position back to the lead before pitting again. On the Final stop at lap 47, Logano received minor adjustments, including tape on the front of the No. 12 Snap-on Tools Ford. The adjustments made by the team proved to be enough as Logano was able to hold of his teammate Brad Keselowski who helped make the closing laps a thrilling show before a broken track bar mount relegated the No. 22 REV Group Ford Mustang to a 24th place finish. Logano would then have to hold off a hard charging Paul Menard in the closing laps to secure the victory for Team Penske.
Quote: “It was far from easy. What a great Snap-On Ford Mustang. It was awesome for this 12 team to come together. It is a bunch of guys and girls we put together at the shop to have some fun and we come up here to Watkins Glen and it is a lot of fun to win at this racetrack. Brad gave me a run for my money that is for sure. He was just as fast as me, maybe faster. I never ran so many qualifying laps inside the car. I was running as hard as I possibly could and I wasn’t sure if my car would last running that hard but she held together just long enough. I couldn’t be more proud to be here in Victory Lane. This is big for Team Penske and the XFINITY side of things. Great to get a win for them. I am proud to drive the Snap-on Mustang today and ready for tomorrow.”
No. 22 REV Group Ford Mustang – Brad Keselowski
Start: 2nd
Finish: 24th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 79/82
Laps Led: 0
Owner’s Points Position (behind leader): 6th (-81 pts.)
Recap: Brad Keselowski and the No. 22 REV Group Ford Mustang team waged a great battle with teammate, Joey Logano, over the final laps of the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International before a broken track bar mount relegated the team to a 24th-place finish, which was not indicative of how strong they were on this day. After starting the race from the second position, Keselowski embarked on an action-filled day, starting with a near spin on lap 8 while coming off the carousel turn that dropped him to the third position. Six laps later, following a restart, the No. 42 of Kyle Larson accidentally made contact with Keselowski while coming off Turn 1, sending Keselowski high on the track and dropping him back two more positions. Crew chief Brian Wilson elected to bring his driver down pit road at lap 16 for their first pit stop of the day, which resulted in Keselowski restarting from the 18th position as many other drivers stayed on the track. To add to the excitement of the day, Keselowski and the No. 60 of Trevor Bayne made accidental contact while coming through the “esses” that resulted in Bayne spinning. Through it all, Keselowski was able to race his way back to the second position at lap 59, setting up a great duel with Logano. Unfortunately, on lap 74, he reported smoke in the cockpit of his Ford. The issue gradually became worse of the next few laps and Wilson made the call to bring his driver in for repairs that would allow him to finish the event in the 24th position.
Quote: “Joey and I were both really fast and if either one of us got in the lead it was obvious we were going to drive away. That is something to be really proud of. We had very fast Ford Mustangs today and congrats to Joey on the win. It is good for the program to see Team Penske get in Victory Lane today. I wish it could have been us with the REV Group Ford, but I am happy for Joey and all those guys.”
