Joey Logano qualified in the fourth position for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. That is his best career starting position at the Martinsville Speedway.

Three laps into the race, Logano made his way around the machine of Ryan Newman to take over the third spot. Logano took off well; however, was losing rear grip as the laps clicked off. By lap 30 Logano was running in the 12th position. Logano reported that he had lost all forward drive and couldn’t get off the corners. As caution flew on the track at lap 51, Logano was scored in the 16th position.

On the first pit stop of the day, the Home Depot Racing team took four times, removed a right rear spring rubber, and filled the number 20 machine with Sunoco Fuel. By removing the right rear spring rubber, this would tighten up the car, and give better forward drive off the corners. The right rear spring rubber adjustment also increased the pit stop time, and Logano would restart lap 61 from the 20th position.

Logano would lose several more spots on the track, as the car was tight in the center. By lap 90 he was running in the 22nd position. The second caution flag of the race came on lap 107 for the number 36 of Dave Blaney. Zippy, Logano’s crew chief, made a wedge adjustment and air pressure adjustment on the stop. The green flag would wave once again on lap 114 and Logano would restart from the 22nd position. Logano would report back to the team that the car was turning much better, and it was the best it had been all day.

Red flag conditions would come out on the circuit on lap 222 as NASCAR stopped the race to clean up debris and fluid as a result of an incident between Martin Truex Jr and Kasey Kahne. It was reported that the throttle on the Truex machine was stuck, which caused the accident. Logano and Zippy talked strategy and possible adjustments during the red flag. Logano was running 19th at the time. When the pits were opened, Zippy called for Logano to come down pit road to continue to work on improving the car. Logano would lose three positions due to a few cars staying out on the track.

Logano restarted from the 23rd position on lap 229; however on lap 231, the yellow flag would draw once again, and this time Logano was involved. Luckily for him, though, he only spun out as a result of avoiding the wreck. His car only sustained light damage. The initial cause of the caution was due to Regan Smith checking up, which caused Kurt Busch to drive to the inside, hit the curb, and slam the number 47 of Bobby Labonte. The Home Depot Racing team brought Joey down pit road to check the damage, and to check the fenders. Logano was scored in the 26th position at the time.

After the incident, Logano would get up on the wheel and start to work his way through the field. As the 9th caution flag of the day flew on lap 351, Logano was in the 9th position. Logano would pit, this time for a small wedge adjustment, tires and Sunoco fuel. Logano would restart from the 9th position after the pit stops.

During a long green flag run, the team would pit for a green flag pit stop on Lap 464 for tires and a chassis adjustment. Joey was running 12th at the time he came down pit road. As luck would have it, the yellow flag would fly right after the pit stop, trapping the number 20 machine of Logano two laps down. Logano would get the wave around, which would score him one lap down in the running order.

The Green flag would fly once again on the circuit on lap 471. Logano was scored in the 18th position, one lap down. Logano would battle hard in the remaining laps of the race, and would finish in the 13th position, the first car one lap down.

With his 13th place finish, Logano moves up 2 positions in the point standings to 27th. Logano is 57 points behind Mark Martin, who sits in 10th place in the standings.

Next week it’s onto the Texas Motor Speedway, which is undoubtedly one of the tougher tracks on the circuit for Joey Logano. Logano has an average finishing position of 24.2 at Texas. Logano has shown huge improvements from his rookie season. In last year’s AAA Texas 500, he came home 4th after starting from the 20th position.

Joey Logano Goody’s Fast Relief 500 Photos

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Joey Logano Goody’s Fast Relief 500 Videos