On “Throwback Weekend” at Darlington, Joey Logano shoves William Byron aside on the penultimate lap to take his first win of the 2022 season
While Formula One ushered in a new era on Sunday with the premiere of the Miami Grand Prix, NASCAR went retro once again at Darlington.
Joey Logano won the Goodyear 400 as part of the now traditional “Throwback Weekend” at Darlington Raceway. Logano won the race in his dark red Penske-Ford with the starting number 22 after he had hit the rear of the leader William Byron (Hendrick-Chevrolet) on the penultimate lap and the latter had lost considerable momentum.
Byron was on slightly older tyres than Logano in the closing stages and in his first post-race reaction spoke of Logano being “just an idiot”. “He does that all the time. I don’t think he can win a race any other way. “
He wasn’t going to go quietly.
Take a look at @joeylogano‘s move for the lead. pic.twitter.com/X4DBWr2Z8O
– NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 8, 2022
Logano, of course, did not take Byron’s accusations lying down. “You don’t send me into the wall without getting it back,” the Penske driver said of revenge and was delighted with his first win of the season. By the way, the dark red design of his Ford Mustang was a replica of the one Logano had started his racing career with in 1995.
In qualifying on Saturday, Joey Logano had captured his first pole of the season. While he led the field at the start, Chase Elliott (Hendrick-Chevrolet) was all forced to start from the back after crashing in qualifying, as well as Kevin Harvick (Stewart/Haas-Ford) and Denny Hamlin (Gibbs-Toyota) after making late changes to the car.
☎️ What’s the 411?
We’re at @TooToughToTame Goodyear400 NASCARThrowback pic.twitter.com/z0vG46PyTD
– NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 8, 2022
Half a lap after the start, Kyle Larson (Hendrick-Chevrolet), who started from the front row alongside pole-setter Logano, took the lead straight away. However, Logano regained the lead during the first pit stop.
Stage wins for Logano, Chastain – out for Larson, Keselowski, Kyle Busch
While Logano set the pace, Larson dueled with Kyle Busch (Gibbs-Toyota) for the second position. In the process, Larson spun but didn’t hit anywhere. After an early spin at Dover a week ago and finishing P6, Larson was not to see the chequered flag this time. A drive failure led to retirement shortly after the spin.
Hey Siri, play Can’t Be Tamed by @MileyCyrus pic.twitter.com/AJ5bRdyXmF
– NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 8, 2022
Meanwhile, Kyle Busch managed to take the lead from Logano on the restart after Larson spun. It was preceded by a close duel over several laps. In the final laps of the first race segment, however, Busch struggled with a loss of grip. Logano got past again and took the Stage 1 win ahead of Ross Chastain (Trackhouse-Chevrolet) and Christopher Bell (Gibbs-Toyota).
Stage 2 was dominated by a long green flag run. Martin Truex Jr (Gibbs-Toyota) took the lead from Joey Logano at the green flag stop. However, the second race segment did not run completely under green. Kyle Busch was unable to avoid a crash by lapped Brad Keselowski (RFK-Ford) after a puncture.
Lady in Black get down, good Lord,
Baby, givin’ ’em stripes all over town pic.twitter.com/1pwdnHv2bz– NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 8, 2022
For both Busch and Keselowski, the race was over with the unfortunate crash. At the front, Chastain won the short sprint to the second stage flag ahead of Truex Jr. and Logano.
Stage 3: Crash by Chastain in battle for lead
The final race segment began with the lead for Denny Hamlin, who had started the race from the rear of the field. He was dispatched quickest by his Gibbs crew during the stage caution pit stop. At the restart, Hamlin dueled with Ross Chastain, but not for long.
In the close duel, Chastain lost his way in a similar way to Kyle Larson’s duel with Kyle Busch in Stage 1. Unlike Larson, however, Chastain did not just spin. The trackhouse driver hit the inner track barrier and was out of the race.
As in Stage 2, there was also a run of green flag stops in Stage 3. Tyler Reddick (Childress-Chevrolet) was then the leader. When there was another yellow flag with 40 laps to go due to a crash by Alex Bowman (Hendrick-Chevrolet), Reddick’s timing suited him. But on pit lane, Joey Logano was the quickest off the line, putting him back in the lead.
Nine-car crash heralds final stage
Just a few seconds after the restart, the yellow light came on again. The reason was a crash in the front midfield that took Gibbs driver Martin Truex Jr., the 23XI duo Bubba Wallace and Kurt Busch as well as Stewart/Haas driver Cole Custer out of the race. All four crashed into the inside track barrier on the back straight. As many as nine cars were involved in the crash.
Multiple cars were involved in an incident on the backstretch. pic.twitter.com/5KyVLiPjVg
– NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 8, 2022
On the restart after the biggest crash of the day, Logano lost the lead to William Byron (Hendrick-Chevrolet). Byron led until Turn 3 of the penultimate lap. Then came Logano’s manoeuvre that caused Byron to lose momentum and the lead. While Logano took his first win of the season, Byron still slipped to 13th.
Second place went to Tyler Reddick for the fifth time in his Cup career and the third time this season as he continues to wait for his first win. Justin Haley (Kaulig Chevrolet) finished a strong third.
In the ranks of the co-favourites Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin, who started from the back of the field, Harvick was ultimately the best-placed in fourth. Elliott (P5) and Hamlin (P21) were both involved in the nine-car crash just before the end.
The next stop on the 2022 NASCAR Cup calendar is Kansas Speedway in Kansas City next Sunday (15 May).
