Logano outsmarts former champions for Sprint Cup win

Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va.

Joey Logano took advantage of a three-car duel by sneaking below the trio to take the lead Saturday night, outrunning former champions Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski to win at Richmond International Raceway.

Logano’s first career victory on the 0.75-mile oval came seemingly from nowhere after a restart with nine laps to go. He sat fourth and on the outside with Kenseth leading, Dale Earnhardt Jr. alongside in second and Gordon on the inside in third, in prime position to move underneath the leader and grab the victory.

Instead, when Gordon, Kenseth and Keselowski raced in a triangle jockeying for position, Logano went underneath all three with three laps to go and then held off Gordon for his fifth career NASCAR Sprint Cup victory.

“That’s the best drive I’ve ever had here. What a crazy finish,” Logano said.

He also joined Kevin Harvick as the only drivers with more than one victory this season.

Kyle Busch, never in contention all night, rose to finish third, followed by Keselowski and Kenseth.

Kenseth and Keselowski had words post-race, with the fuming Keselowski saying Kenseth ran him off the track.

“I had a shot at winning the race and he ran me off the track,” Keselowski said. “It was just a mind-boggling move to me. ... I thought it was uncalled for.”

Gordon said Kenseth was doing what he needed to do to hang on.

“I think Matt did what he thought he had to do to win,” Gordon said. “He started making his car real wide. He probably didn’t make the guys behind him real happy.”

Kenseth had come from nowhere after lurking in the back of the top 10 all race long, suddenly charging through the field and passing Gordon to grab the lead with 38 laps to go. It was his first lead.