AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Two 16-year-old drivers for Joe Gibbs Racing swept the top two spots in NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series action at Phoenix International Raceway.
Joey Loango made the most of his Grand National debut by taking the win over Marc Davis in the AlphaTrade.com 150 at the one-mile, D-shaped track in the Valley of the Sun on Thursday, April 19. Both teens are part of a driver development program at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Logano appeared to have the car to beat throughout the event. He started from the outside of the front row and took the lead on lap four from two-time West Series champion Mike Duncan, who had won the Bud Pole Award with a lap of 128.233 mph in qualifying.
Andrew Myers, who notched his first career series victory with a win in this event last year, mounted a strong challenge to Logano. Myers led laps 39-57, but an oil leak later necessitated a green flag pit stop and relegated him to a 26th-place finish.
Logano, meanwhile, paced the field until pitting for fresh tires and fuel during a caution on lap 72. Series rookie David Mayhew, who had pitted during an earlier caution period, quickly moved to the point and began to pull away as Logano was left to work his way through the front runners. He was eighth by lap 80, fourth by lap 100 and second by lap 120.
Although Logano initially reeled in Mayhew, the margin between first and second increased as the leaders worked their way through traffic. Mayhew’s hope for victory faded, however, when his car began to slow. After relinquishing the lead to Logano on lap 135, Mayhew dropped out with engine trouble.
Logano held on for the win in a two-lap dash to the finish after a late-race caution extended the race distance for a green-white-checkered finish. Logano’s Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet crossed the line 1.3 seconds ahead of his teammate, at an average speed of 82.626 mph. The Middletown, Conn., teen netted $13,700 in prize money and posted awards. In addition, Logano’s win secured him a spot in the 2007 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Following Davis of Mitchelville, Md., in the other Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet, was West Series veteran Mike David of Modesto, Calif., in the Bennett Lane Winery Ford. Jeff Barkshire of Auburn, Wash., was fourth in the Centennial Batteries/SPE Dodge. Fifth went to Jesus Hernandez in the Waste Management Chevrolet. Hernandez originally hailed from Fresno, Calif., but is competing in the Busch East Series this season for Ginn Racing as part of the 2007 Drive for Diversity class. Rounding out the top 10 were series rookie Eric Richardson, Todd Souza, Ryan Foster, Alex Haase and Tim Woods III.
The race featured eight lead changes among five drivers – Logano, Mayhew, Myers, Duncan and Brett Thompson. The pace of the event was slowed by seven cautions for 52 laps.
David, who finished in the runner up spot in last year’s final standings, has moved into the lead in this year’s championship standings with 335 points. Davis is second with 297, followed by Woods with 280. Foster is fourth with 276, while Thompson is fifth with 265. Completing the top 10 are Jason Bowles at 264, Haase at 262, Johnny Borneman at 257, Richardson at 236 and Duncan at 233.
The next event on the West Series schedule is at Altamont Motorsports Park near Tracy, Calif., on April 28.
