Logano Holds Off Harvick In Cup, Brandon Jones Wins Xfinity At Phoenix

Joey Logano raved all weekend about the new "Awesome Sauce" at Phoenix Raceway, which was the driver's nickname for the substance that was put on the mile oval to improve grip for tires and make for better racing.

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads during the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The sauce did its job during an entertaining show Sunday, and so did Logano, who raced to his second NASCAR Cup Series win in three weeks by holding off Kevin Harvick during a two-lap overtime restart.

"That was a pretty intense last 30 minutes or hour of the race. A lot going on," Logano said. "Couldn't be more proud of this team. Two wins already in the books. We got to keep this thing rocking."

Also, the winner two weeks ago in Las Vegas for Team Penske, Logano has 25 career Cup victories. He overcame several tough moments, including a pit-road penalty for an uncontrolled tire and a broken jack during another stop.

A late caution triggered the two-lap overtime shootout with Logano, Harvick, and Kyle Busch all in a decent position to win. Logano had a good restart at the mile oval and was able to hold off Harvick. Busch was third, Kyle Larson finished fourth, and Clint Bowyer was fifth.

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

"Really cool to be able to race clean and hard, it's a lot of fun," Logano said. "Kevin is one of the best racers who has every strapped into a race car and a stock car in particular. He's a Hall of Famer, to say the least. When you line up against him at the end of the race, you know it's going to be a heck of a battle."

Pole-sitter Chase Elliott and Harvick dominated the first half of the race, but Elliott had to make a green-flag stop because of a loose front tire and fell a lap behind the leaders. He eventually earned a free pass to get back on the lead lap and finished seventh.

On top of the improved track surface, the Phoenix race was the first under NASCAR's new rules package for short tracks, which included a significantly smaller rear spoiler. The hope was all the changes would make for more passing and excitement during the race.

The tweaks seemed to have their desired effect. There were 20 lead changes and plenty of passing and contact back in the pack. Phoenix also is the site of the Cup Series championship in November.

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Freaky Fast Rewards Ford, during the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

"Hats off to NASCAR for collaborating with the teams, the track and putting on a way better race than what we saw here last year," Logano said.

Elliott started on the pole while Harvick — who has won nine times in Phoenix — also was on the front row. Elliott led the first 61 laps of the race before Harvick beat him off pit road following the first caution.

Harvick had his fourth top 10 finish in four races but was disappointed he couldn't get past Logano at the end.

"Joey was just good enough to run a couple laps there and get where I needed to be on track position," Harvick said.

Cole Custer was the highest finishing rookie in ninth place.

BAD LUCK FOR BLANEY

An early wreck involved three of the front-runners, including Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney. Hamlin's Toyota made contact with the left rear of Keselowski's Ford as they were fighting for position following a restart. The collision left Blaney with nowhere to go, and all three ended up with at least minor damage after sliding up into the wall. Keselowski and Hamlin were able to stay in the race, but Blaney's car was too heavily damaged to continue.

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Tarkett Ford, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 06, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Keselowski was able to recover and eventually led 82 laps before settling for an 11th-place finish.

Hamlin won the Daytona 500 three weeks ago and also won at Phoenix in November, but finished 20th on Sunday. It was a bit of bad luck for Blaney, who was the Cup points leader coming into the race and agreed to a multiyear extension with Team Penske on Friday. He finished 37th.

"It stinks we get taken out early like that, but that's just part of it," Blaney said.

Blaney fell to sixth in the overall points standings following the race. Harvick is the new leader with Logano in second.

TRUEX STARTS FROM THE BACK

Martin Truex Jr. had to start from the back of the 38-car field because of an engine change before Sunday's race. He initially qualified 12th. John Hunter Nemechek also had to drop to the back row because of a radiator change. He had qualified 26th.

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 UniFirst Chevrolet, leads Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, and Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Alliance Parts Ford, during the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Truex was able to recover quickly and was among the leaders — even leading 11 laps — until he hit the wall while in heavy traffic on a restart late in the race. He finished 32nd.

BRANDON JONES GETS 2ND WIN

Brandon Jones passed Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota teammate Kyle Busch with 20 laps remaining and pulled away Saturday at Phoenix Raceway for his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory.

Jones said the win was extra special since he was able to beat Cup stars Busch and Keselowski.

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 07: Brandon Jones, driver of the #19 Menards/Turtle Wax Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series LS Tractor 200 at Phoenix Raceway on March 07, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

"Yeah, man, absolutely," Jones said. "Those are two of arguably the best in the business. We just had a car to beat them today. These guys do an incredible job."

Busch started on the pole and led a race-high 78 laps on the mile oval. But the 23-year-old Jones gained momentum on a 47-lap green-flag stretch that ended the race, passing Busch was relative ease.

UP NEXT

The Cup series heads cross-country to Atlanta Motor Speedway. Keselowski has won two of the past three races in Atlanta, including last year.

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