AVONDALE, Ariz. — Polesitter Joey Logano dominated the first 75 laps on Sunday at Phoenix Int’l Raceway, winning stage one of the Camping World 500 at the one-mile desert oval.
Logano led all but one lap in securing the 10 bonus points for the stage win, which was his first of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
“Not a bad start,” the Connecticut native and Team Penske driver said. “It got a little intense there at the end (of the stage), but overall, it’s good to get our first stage win of the year. We’ve got a long way to go, so we’ll just keep fighting hard for the rest of this race.”
The defending Phoenix winner also added that he has been unaffected by the high heat so far, on a day when the ambient temperature has soared as high as 95 degrees.
“Honestly, it’s pretty cool in here,” Logano admitted with a chuckle. “It’s bringing all the temperatures up … not only inside the car but all the components with the car as well.”
The stage was slowed only once by caution, when Reed Sorenson got into Corey LaJoie in the dogleg and sent LaJoie around at lap 28.
Sorenson, who was the only other driver besides Logano to lead during stage one, stayed out under the caution period and was credited with pacing one lap.
Kyle Larson finished second at the end of the first 75-lap stage, after closing to Logano’s back bumper with six laps to go. The California native was followed by Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott and Jamie McMurray.
Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. completed the top 10 and the list of points-scoring drivers at the end of the first stage.
Larson and Keselowski are the only two drivers to have scored at least one stage point in every race so far this season.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
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