Martinsville as it happened

March 29, 2015 Greg Engle Main Page, NASCAR News Top Story, Top Stories 0

MARTINSVILLE, VA - MARCH 29: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2015 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
MARTINSVILLE, VA - MARCH 29: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2015 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
MARTINSVILLE, VA – MARCH 29: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29, 2015 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

After a morning dominated by the news of Kyle Larson missing the race after a fainting spell Joey Logano led the field from the pole as second placed starter Ryan Newman fell in behind, Truex was third, Jeff Gordon was fourth, Tony Stewart fifth.

Caution number one came out on lap 11 when Trevor Bayne spun in turn 1 shortly after contact from Alex Bowman.  The green came back out on lap 16; Newman held the lead on the outside for two laps before Logano was able to move back to the point.  Caution number 2 came out on lap 22 when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun entering turn 3.

Several cars outside the leaders, including Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson pitted.  The green flew on lap 26.  Logano went to the lead as Newman slid down into second.  By lap 39, Earnhardt had moved to fourth as Truex began dropping back with a possible gear issue; on lap 41 Denny Hamlin powered by Newman for second.  On 48 Harvick moved into fifth.

JJ Yeley slammed into the turn 1 after contact from Hamlin who was fighting Logano for the lead and brought out caution three on lap 54. The leaders all pitted for the first time.  Logano got out first, Newman was second, Edwards third, Hamlin and Earnhardt rounded out the top five.

The green came back out on lap 60. MORE>>>

Greg Engle
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About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.