Last Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin spun Joey Logano while he was racing Jeff Gordon for the lead. Hamlin claimed Logano had cut him off, and Logano vowed to get him back.
Cue to Sunday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway, in Fontana, were Hamlin and Logano were racing yet again for the lead when they got together coming out of corner and wrecking themselves.
“He probably shouldn’t have done what he did last week, so that’s what he gets,” Logano said.
The race ended with Hamlin being taken to a local hospital for observation, Logano in a fight with Tony Stewart, and Kyle Busch celebrating in victory lane.
The win on Sunday afternoon was Busch’s 25th career victory, first since winning in April 2012 at Richmond International Speedway, and first for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota at the 2.0 mile track. Yes, Busch broke a 31-race drought.
Busch also won the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Saturday before dominating the Sprint Cup race on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking of Tony Stewart, he was furious at Logano after a late restart. After the race Stewart charged Logano on pit road, shoved and took a swing at the driver before being restrained by crew members for both the No. 22 and No. 14.
“What the hell do you think I’m mad about?” Stewart snapped at a Fox TV reporter. “Some little (expletive) ran us clear down to the infield. He wants to (expletive) about everybody else, but he’s the one who drivers like a little (expletive). I’m going to bust his ass.”
Expect NASCAR to fine both drivers on Tuesday.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. quietly finished second in the race and now finds himself leading the championship standings. Logano, in all his dramatics, finished third. Carl Edwards was fourth with Kurt Busch rounding out the top five for the second straight week in a row.
With Easter next weekend, the next race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is April 7, 2013 from Martinsville Speedway. Could we see another Hamlin vs Logano battle, or maybe even a Stewart vs. Logano battle?
