Joey Logano Wins Pure Michigan 400

Joey Logano finished Sunday afternoon’s Pure Michigan 400 where he started it, at the front of the pack.

With three races until the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Logano added his name to the list of drivers vying for a chance to win the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

Logano started first at Michigan International Speedway, and while he ventured from that spot for the majority of the 400 miles, he was back in it at the end and was able to capture his first win of the season.

Logano ran down Mark Martin, who would run out of gas with just four laps remaining.

“I knew he was two laps short, but I really wanted to get by him in case they were fooling with me,” Logano said. “They were getting great mileage and I knew (Kevin Harvick) behind me, he was about the same speed as me. Just getting that clean air would have been so much.”

Harvick would finish second and Kurt Busch would round out the top three.

“This is unbelievable, just to win here at Michigan in their (Ford and Penske Racing) backyard,” Logano said. “We needed this for our Chase hopes. .. We’re here in victory lane. This is just so freaking cool.”

Penske Racing will continue celebrating as A.J Allmendinger easily won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday evening at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Sunday’s race opened with a surprising number of cautions — three in the first 13 laps, including Austin Dillion, subbing for Tony Stewart, drifting up the track to collect J.J. Yeley. No word from Stewart-Haas Racing on who will fill in for Stewart next weekend as the Cup Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedwy for  some short track racing on Saturday night.