Full Throttle

In just his second Nationwide Series start, Joey Logano captured the pole for this evening’s Federated Auto Parts 300 at the Nashville Superspeedway. The No.20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver circled the 1.333-mile oval in 30.003 seconds (159.944 m.p.h.).

The pole victory was the first of his Nationwide Series “career.”

“I’m glad to get the first pole under my belt,” said Logano. “The Game Stop Toyota was a little ‘free’ in qualifying, but I think it’s going to be pretty good in the race.”

Starting with Logano on the front row will be another youngster, Brad Keselowski, who posted a time of 30.127 seconds.

Mike Bliss (30.162) and series points leader Clint Bowyer (30.167) will start in row two.

While Denny Hamlin dominated the Nationwide Series race at Dover, and Bowyer finished ninth to keep a 121-point stranglehold on the championship, it was first-time starter Logano that created much of the news from last Saturday’s race.

Logano, the much-hyped, 18-year-old got behind the wheel of the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and proceeded to show that he was everything they said he was.

On a track he had never driven, Logano qualified a solid ninth and then rebounded from a pit-road incident to finish a very good sixth. The only drivers ahead of him were named Hamlin, Carl Edwards, David Stremme, David Reutimann and Greg Biffle - all Sprint Cup veterans.

Chapter Two of the Logano story takes place tonight.

Meanwhile Kyle Busch has his own story to write this weekend. Busch is attempting to run in three different races at three different venues this weekend. He finished second last night in the Craftsman Truck Series race after starting last. Busch will start fifth on the grid.

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