NASCAR Martinsville recap, finishing order: Joey Logano wins First Data 500 in thrilling finish

Joey Logano guaranteed himself a shot at the 2018 Cup Series championship, but not without starting a skirmish that might last all the way to Homestead.

For months now, the question that was asked by NASCAR teams and fans alike was a simple one: Who would join the Big 3 to race for a Cup Series championship at Homestead? Joey Logano provided an emphatic answer on Sunday afternoon by winning the First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway — but not without providing a finish that will be a talking point for at least the next week.

Logano’s No. 22 Ford was fast all day, as he ran a close second in the opening stage and took the green and white checkered flag in Stage 2. Though shuffled back a few spots and behind his Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch at various times, a late caution provided and quick service by his team put Logano back in front.

While it initially looked like Keselowski or Kyle Busch might end up racing him for the win, the big threat turned out to be Truex, something of a surprise considering he had never won a short track race and had to start the race 33rd after failing inspection. Yet there was the 78, side by side on the inside of Logano and hanging right in there with less than 10 laps left.

Right before they took the white flag, Truex managed to get by Logano and appeared to be in good shape to gran a satisfying win. But Logano got to his back bumper and made contact that turned the 78 sideways, and while Truex saved the car, he could only watch helplessly as Logano drove to the win (and Denny Hamlin squeezed by to take second).

Logano defended his actions on the final lap in his post-race interview with NBC Sports.

“Miami, just thinking about Miami,” Logano said. “I knew it was going to be a fun race there to the end. Martin was definitely better. Our car was good there on that last run, and I was just being as defensive as I could. We were racing hard, he was getting into my left-rear. We were both running hard, as you expect. You’ve just got to expect, Martinsville, at the end of the race, you’re going to have some bumping and grinding there at the end.”

Not surprisingly, Truex had a much different view of how the finish unfolded, defiantly insisting he’d still be a factor in the championship hunt after encouraging some of the boos that rained down from the stands on Logano.

“He won the battle, but he ain’t winning the damn war,” Truex said. After being asked if he meant Logano would not win the championship, he replied, “I’m just not going to let him win it. I’m going to win it.”

Certainly, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick figure to have their say as well, and all of the Big 3 drivers need to be wary of another driver winning one of the next two races to worm their way into the championship picture as well.

For now, though, Logano will be the calmest driver in the field heading to Texas, and the first to be sure he’ll be competing for all the marbles in a few weeks. No one would have expected that when the playoffs began, but the way very little has gone according to the script so far, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised.

2018 First Data 500 finishing order from Martinsville Speedway

1. Joey Logano (also Stage 2 winner)
2. Denny Hamlin (Stage 1 winner)
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Kyle Busch
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Kurt Busch
7. Chase Elliott
8. Ryan Newman
9. Daniel Suarez
10. Kevin Harvick
11. Aric Almirola
12. Jimmie Johnson
13. Chris Buescher
14. AJ Allmendinger
15. Ty Dillon
16. Jamie McMurray
17. Alex Bowman
18. David Ragan
19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
20. Ryan Blaney
21. Clint Bowyer
22. Paul Menard
23. Matt Kenseth
24. Cole Whitt
25. Michael McDowell
26. Erik Jones
27. D.J. Kennington
28. Regan Smith
29. Ross Chastain
30. Austin Dillon
31. JJ Yeley
32. Landon Cassill
33. Jeb Burton
34. Bubba Wallace
35. Joey Gase
36. Matt DiBenedetto
37. Kyle Larson
38. Timmy Hill
39. William Byron
40. Hermie Sadler