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Talladega: Joey Logano post race interview

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 GameStop Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 3rd What were the final laps like in today's race? "Talladega is a learning experience for me, that's for sure. I just tried everything I learned at the beginning ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:52 PM

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JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 GameStop Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd

What were the final laps like in today's race?

"Talladega is a learning experience for me, that's for sure. I just tried everything I learned at the beginning of the race to use at the end. Going down the backstretch I looked and didn't think I had a good shot at winning it, but all you can do is start pushing and hope for the best. David (Ragan) was right in front of me and it's cool that I was able to push him to his first Nationwide win. We've been running against each other since we were really small -- running Legends cars back in Georgia. To get him up there and get him that win was really cool."

Did the final laps seem out of control?

"The last 20 laps were out of control out there. It's definitely the biggest pack I've ever been involved in. It's still my first superspeedway race in a Nationwide car so I learned a lot today. I want to apologize to Michael Waltrip before we even start -- I got in the back of him. These bumpers are round and not like the Cup cars that are too solid. Besides that, the last couple laps I just got back there and coming down the back straightaway I didn't think I had a shot at winning so I just started pushing whoever was in front of me and David (Ragan) happened to be there. I was pushing and his run finally opened up and by the time we were about halfway down the straight before the tri-oval off we started going. I just started following him through the holes he was making and it was cool to be able to push him right to the lead. It's neat that both of us have been racing against each other since 1999 running Legends cars and Bandoleros and all that. To help push him to his first Nationwide win -- that was pretty neat pushing right there."

Did you feel Dale Earnhardt Jr. would make a move in the closing laps?

"He's not running for points so he's going for the checkered flag. Basically that's what we're all trying to do. It's gut instinct. As soon as it happens you see what happens and you just go with it. You go with your first call because you don't have time to make a second decision on it or to weigh out your options. You just go with what you think is right and for me I felt like I made the right decisions throughout the race. I learned a lot for tomorrow so I am looking forward to getting in the Home Depot Toyota tomorrow and taking what I learned today and hopefully putting it to use."

Did you think you had a chance to win toward the end?

"Half a lap to go I think I was way too far back, I think. For all of us being single file, I don't think I was going to be able to make it up there. I was just going to keep pushing and whatever happened, happened. It's cool to get David (Ragan) that win - he's been trying for a while now. Overall I would say it's a good day. Obviously I would like to be in victory lane, but it's a good day."

How much will your success in Nationwide carry over to your Cup program?

"I think the momentum for me carrying over is going to be there. It's a confidence booster really. The momentum on the Nationwide side just as a team - really all year we've been running good. We finished fifth last week in Phoenix and I was able to get another top-five so that's three top-fives in a row for us. I think that's cool and I think it will carry over. As far as Nationwide to Cup car, drafting-wise - it's similar, but quite a bit different at the same time. Here at this track they drive more similar to each other. The cars aren't really on the edge as much as they were at Daytona or anything, but really it's the bump- drafting that will be the most difference. You've got two flat surfaces so it is a little easier there."

-credit: toyota motorsports

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