RICHMOND, Va. -- Joey Logano rallied from the rear Sunday at Richmond International Raceway, scoring his first victory of the season.
The Team Penske driver won the Toyota Owners 400 after starting last because of a transmission change in his No. 22 Ford.
The 18th victory of Logano’s career came in his 300th start and was his second at Richmond.
“You know, it’s nice to break through and get our first points win of the year, that being on the 300th start,” he said. “For me personally, it was kind of a cool milestone to hit and drive into victory lane with that, too.”
A critical pit strategy call helped propel Logano to the victory as crew chief Todd Gordon elected to keep him on the track and gain several positions, gambling on another yellow that came soon afterward.
“I am proud of the effort of the team,” Logano said. “We executed under pressure today and brought a car home that was a 5th-10th place car home to victory lane.”
Teammate Brad Keselowski finished second, followed by Denny Hamlin, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kevin Harvick.
Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Aric Almirola and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top 10.
STAGE 1: Pole-sitter Matt Kenseth wins his first stage of the season
STAGE 2: Brad Keselowski breaks through for a stage victory
HOW LOGANO WON: He bumped Kyle Larson out of the lead with 17 laps remaining.
WHO ELSE HAD A GOOD DAY: Teammate Brad Keselowski led 110 laps. ... Denny Hamlin rallied from an average starting position (16th) for third. ... Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took fourth after causing a caution with a Turn 4 collision on Lap 66. ... Daniel Suarez (12th) was the highest-finishing rookie.
WHO HAD A BAD DAY: Dale Earnhardt Jr. sped in the pits and collided with teammate Jimmie Johnson (who took the blame for the incident). Then he spun and hit the wall again because of another cut tire. ... Erik Jones finished last after a a fourth-lap collision with the wall. ... A mechanical problem doomed A.J. Allmendinger relegated him to 37th
NOTABLE: Kenseth and Keselowski scored their first stage wins of the season. … After failing to lead in the first eight races, Kenseth started from the pole position and led 164 laps. ... Logano is the fifth driver in series history to win his 300th start, joining Denny Hamlin (Talladega 2014), Kyle Busch (Texas 2013), Kasey Kahne (Charlotte 2012) and Rusty Wallace (Atlanta 1993).
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I got ran right into the wall on Lap 1. We’re three-wide on Lap 1 of a 400-lap race.” – Erik Jones after cutting a tire from a first-lap skirmish with Kasey Kahne.
WHAT’S NEXT: Geico 500, Sunday, May 7, Talladega Superspeedway.