Paul Wolfe got here near calling Joey Logano down pit highway for gasoline earlier than the ultimate additional time try at Nashville Superspeedway however figured the staff had gone that far, and it was well worth the gamble to stay it out.
Logano made it work and drove a stumbling gasoline tank throughout the end line for the No. 22 staff’s first win. A win that cliches the Workforce Penske group a spot within the postseason as a substitute of bouncing across the bubble spot.
Wolfe and Logano went 110 laps on their ultimate tank of gasoline. A rash of cautions within the ultimate stage, together with 5 additional time makes an attempt, helped make the danger repay.
“It was (a tough determination to remain on observe), and I used to be so near calling him down that final one as a result of, at that time, you’re solely so correct,” Wolfe stated. “My engineers are figuring the gasoline mileage manually, after which we’ve simulations instruments and issues predicting what number of laps we will run, which is predicated … you may inform when the engine’s working how a lot Joey’s saving. And so they weren’t completely lining up. However I went with the one which informed us we might run the longest. However that final one, that one stated we have been working out, so at that time, it was very powerful.
“I believed it was well worth the threat. It’s exhausting … I do know we’re on the factors cuff, however you need to determine over the subsequent few weeks another person goes to win a race, after which it’s all about profitable, I really feel like. So, I believe that made the choice a bit of simpler realizing another person behind us in factors is fairly more likely to win a race with all of the completely different type tracks developing as we lead into the playoffs.”
The gasoline window for Nashville Superspeedway is roughly 80 laps. However with Logano working in the midst of the sphere versus in clear air because the chief, plus the warning intervals, the variables fell his means.
Logano was working fifteenth with 15 laps to go (lap 285) within the race’s scheduled distance. His ultimate pit cease was on lap 221, when the staff additionally elected to take two tires. When the warning got here out with two laps to go, organising the primary additional time, Logano restarted seventh, having moved up within the working order due to those that pitted in entrance of him and thru the select rule.
For the second and third additional time makes an attempt, Logano restarted fifth. He moved into third place on the time of the warning that arrange the fourth additional time restart, and he was the chief for that try as a result of Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. needed to pit for gasoline in entrance of him.
Logano held serve on the fourth and fifth additional time restarts. However as he crossed the end line, he informed his staff he was out of gasoline. And but, by some means, Logano returned to do a burnout earlier than going to victory lane.
“We felt good it was full once we made that final cease, and at that time, I believe we stated we have been 10 laps to the nice,” Wolfe stated. “If it ran common distance, we felt we might run to (lap) 310. The primary additional time, my guys have been like, ‘We’re all proper. We will perhaps do yet one more.’ Then one other one got here, and it was like, we’re pushing it, however I believe we will do it.
“Then after the second, yeah, it was nerve-wracking for positive. By the final one, I used to be form of numb to it at that time. I’m like, ‘It’s what it’s.’ I stated, ‘In case you really feel it stumble, convey it to us.’ It was a giant curler coaster of feelings there going by way of all these late-race additional time cautions.”
