Hamlin breezes to win
Logano sixth in Nationwide debut
Published: Sun, Jun. 01, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Sun, Jun. 01, 2008 02:03AM
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closeDOVER, DEL. -- Denny Hamlin made it nine victories for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series this season, leading all but 69 laps to win Saturday night at Dover International Speedway.
Rookie phenom Joey Logano finished sixth in his NASCAR national-level debut, running near the front of the 200-mile race with veterans such as Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and JGR teammate Hamlin.
The 18-year-old Logano drove the No. 20 Toyota that entered leading the Nationwide Series in owner points and has won six races in 14 starts this season with Kyle Busch, Hamlin and Tony Stewart behind the wheel.
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Edwards, the pole-sitter, was second. David Stremme was third and David Reutimann fourth.
Logano was eligible to drive once he turned 18 last week, and JGR immediately put him to work. He's scheduled to run about 18 Nationwide races this year and might be positioned to make the move to the Sprint Cup Series if JGR expands to a four-car team as early as next season.
Logano expected better than sixth in his Nationwide debut.
"It ain't much in my book," Logano said.
The race was delayed three hours by rain, but ended with the sun out and the 1-mile concrete track dry. The race looked like a replay of last September's race on the Monster Mile when Hamlin dominated in that win.
"Fairly uneventful," Hamlin said.
Busch, who has dominated at all levels this season, was knocked out in a late-race collision with Braun Racing teammate Jason Leffler. Leffler got loose in the No. 38 Toyota and blindsided Busch from behind. Both drivers were fighting for top-10 finishes, but they spun and smacked into the wall, and their race was over.
HALL OF FAMER: Bill Elliott was set for induction into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Elliott, who starts 24th in the No. 21 Ford today, planned to fly to Atlanta on Saturday after Cup practice and then return to Dover after the ceremony. The former Cup champion joins a hall class that includes Steve Bartkowski, Edwin Moses and John Schuerholz.
Elliott has 44 career victories and 55 poles in a Cup career that started in 1976.
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