Seventeen-year-old Joey Logano of Middletown, Conn., dominated Sunday’s ARCA Carolina 500, the first race at Rockingham Speedway since NASCAR’s departure after a February 2004 race.
Logano came within one car of lapping the entire field at one point, then saw cautions add three more drivers back to the lead lap. His crew saved his last set of tires in case they were needed for a late-race sprint, and that’s exactly what happened. Logano was fourth when the race restarted for the final time with four laps to go, then charged all the way back into the lead by the time the field made one lap.
NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader finished second after starting 31st, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in third, Matt Hawkins in fourth and Daytona 200 winner Michael Annett in fifth.
Andy Hillenburg, who bought the track at auction in October for $4.4 million, estimated Sunday’s crowd at 15,000.
- Logano to make Cup debut at Richmond?
- Logano the front-runner to replace Tony Stewart at JGR
- Rockingham track to be auctioned
- Joey Logano on ESPN Networks Wednesday
- Logano will drive 5 Cup races for HOF this fall
all in all, the racing was good, I just hope to see less races with 4 on the lead lap than more so
Great race for this Kid!
Wow, wish I had seen it… Like everyone else has been saying, I guess JGR isn’t going to be hurting too much when/if Smoke leaves! Logano is supposed to be the real deal.
He really drove well, and I don’t think he made a single mistake. Of course, it helps to have a Cup pit crew come down to help. Wish I’d gotten off my ass and gone. Good luck to Andy Hillenburg in making the Rock a viable track again. I prmise to be there next year, Andy!
Lets not make him the pope just yet, OK
A replacement for Tony in the Future, maybe but lets see what he can do when he is 21 and has some time in grade in the big cars for a while…
gonesouthern wrote:
Exactly, Everybody has been pimping his name around as the next big thing, and while I think (know) he’s good, The Cup series is a whole different game, and its not just a few cars with good EQ that you’re racing against.
came with in one car of lapping the field is nuts, like playing a video game on easy nuts!
Man if you watch him drive and listen to him he is just like Kyle, I love it
BFDracing wrote:
Yeah but remember its ARCA the difference between the Haves and Have nots is HUGE.
I was hoping that K-Dog would throw the block at the end but it’s not his style. The JGR crew and goodies didn’t hurt the kid either. He ran a pretty good race. The race was boring at times. I wish this kid well but right now he’s the next Aric Amirola. I just hope he doesn’t become the next Bobby Hillin.
Howie motorsports photography wrote:
Robby is not going to let you come over anymore if you keep picking a NEW GUY every week.