DOVER, Del. (Sept. 21) – Joey Logano (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet) finished second but became the NASCAR Busch East Series’ first rookie champion in the Sunoco 150 at Dover International Speedway Friday afternoon.
Sean Caisse (No. 44 Casella Waste Systems Chevrolet) took the race lead from Logano with just eight laps to go, and then withstood a final charge by Logano to win by a car length.
Pole winner Jeffrey Earnhardt (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet) gained new northern fans and turned heads with a contending run to finish third. It was the 18-year-old Earnhardt’s best finish of the season and his fourth top-five finish over the last six races of the season.
Jesus Hernandez (No. 4 Allstate Chevrolet) placed fourth, followed by Tim McCreadie (No. 31 Camping World/RVbank.com Chevrolet.)
By virtue of NASCAR’s lower age limit of 16 starting this year for its touring series, Logano is also the youngest champion of the series as well. Logano turned 17 on May 24. His base second-place prize money of $9,361 pushed his season race winnings to $100,786.
Logano, hired as a development driver by Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2007 season, revealed uncommon talent by leading the series point standings all but one week during the early season, and drove on to five wins and 10 top-five finishes in 13 races. That set a new record for races won by a rookie. The previous record was two-win seasons by three different rookie drivers.
Logano praised his teammates in sharing the title.
“My crew chief Mike Sibley is one of the greatest out there. Everyone on the team has worked so hard, and it paid off. Every time we went to the race track we had a chance to win. But there are ten teams who could win every single week. The NASCAR Busch East Series has great competition.”
Chase Austin (No. 99 HomeLife Dodge) posted his rookie season’s best finish of sixth followed by Marc Davis (No 92 WHUR 96.3 Chevrolet), Steve Park (No. 54 Waste Management/Recycle America Chevrolet), Peyton Sellers (No. 83 Strutmasters.com Chevrolet) and Max Dumarey (No. 16 Bodycoach.net) Chevrolet.
Finish
Start
Car #
Driver
Hometown
Car
Laps
Money Won
Reason Out
1
3
44
Sean Caisse
Pelham, N.H.
Casella Waste Systems Chevrolet
150
$13,500
2
2
20
Joey Logano #
Middletown, Conn.
Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet
150
$10,661
3
1
1
Jeffrey Earnhardt #
Mooresville, N.C.
Tracker Boats/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
150
$10,000
4
19
4
Jesus Hernandez #
Fresno, Calif.
Allstate Chevrolet
150
$7,500
5
21
31
Tim McCreadie
Watertown, N.Y.
Camping World Chevrolet
150
$7,000
6
8
66
Chase Austin #
Eudora, Kan.
HomeLife Communities Dodge
150
$6,000
7
15
92
Marc Davis
Mitchelville, Md.
WHUR 96.3 Chevrolet
150
$5,700
8
18
53
Steve Park
E. Northport, N.Y.
Waste Management Recycle America Ford
150
$4,600
9
5
83
Peyton Sellers
Danville, Va.
Strutmasters.com Chevrolet
150
$4,700
10
7
16
Max Dumarey
Gent, Belgium
BodyCoach.net Dodge
150
$5,000
11
24
58
Richard Gould
North Brunswick, N.J.
North American River Runners Chevrolet
150
$3,700
12
20
35
Jerry Marquis
Broad Brook, Conn.
Waste Management Recycle America Chevrolet
150
$4,150
13
27
30
Jeff Anton
Russell, Mass.
Baran Institute/Engineered Floors Chevrolet
150
$4,100
14
11
03
Rogelio Lopez #
Mexico City, Mexico
Telmex/Lucas Oil Chevrolet
150
$4,000
15
25
61
Mike Olsen
N. Haverhill, N.H.
Little Trees Chevrolet
147
$4,550
16
28
84
Dion Ciccarelli
Severn, Md.
Bad Boys of the Bering Sea Chevrolet
146
$3,900
17
9
22
Ruben Pardo
Mexico City, Mexico
Family Dollar/Supercuts Dodge
140
$3,850
18
6
48
Eddie MacDonald
Rowley, Mass.
New England Mechanical Overlay Chevrolet
139
$3,800
19
29
26
Scott Bouley
Wolcott, Conn.
Cutting Edge Signs/Spyville.com Chevrolet
137
$3,750
20
26
37
Michelle Theriault #
Bristol, Conn.
Glock, Inc. Chevrolet
136
$3,725
21
13
40
Matt Kobyluck
Uncasville, Conn.
Mohegan Sun Chevrolet
116
$3,700
Accident
22
16
2
John Freeman
Huntersville, N.C.
Smashmouth Dodge
115
$3,675
Suspension
23
17
06
Ryan Seaman
Toms River, N.J.
ERS Fleet Repair/Erbe Carting Chevrolet
113
$3,150
Accident
24
30
5
Jonathan Smith #
Beacon Falls, Conn.
Kodak/Dominos/Sunoco Chevrolet
112
$3,600
Electrical
25
12
99
Bryon Chew
Mattituck, N.Y.
Buzz Chew Auto Group Chevrolet
92
$3,500
Accident
26
22
9
Tim Andrews
Mooresville, N.C.
Van Dyk Baler/Bollegraaf Chevrolet
85
$3,000
Engine
27
10
21
Antonio Perez
Mexico City, Mexico
Raintree Vacation/Aqua Pure Chevrolet
84
$3,000
Accident
28
14
52
Jamie Hayes #
Norlina, N.C.
Hendrick Autoguard Chevrolet
64
$3,500
Accident
29
4
15
Brian Ickler
Poway, Calif.
NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
42
$3,000
Suspension
30
23
63
John Salemi
Nashua, N.H.
Ocean Glass Chevrolet
7
$3,500
Engine
Did Not
Qualify
41
James Pritchard Jr
Wharton, N.J.
Mannings USA Dodge
14
Joe Masessa
Franklin Lakes, N.J.
North Jersey Dermatology Chevrolet
3
Pierre Bourque
Ottawa, Ontario
Impremedia/Full Metal Minerals Chevrolet
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 47 minutes 14 seconds
Margin of Victory: .172 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: J.Earnhardt (151.413 mph, 23.776 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 54 laps.
Lead Changes: 11 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J.Logano 1-14; S.Caisse 15-21; J.Logano 22-65; B.Chew 66-68; J.Freeman 69-72; S.Caisse 73-86; J.Hernandez 87-91; J.Freeman 92-102; J.Hernandez 103-105; S.Caisse 106-120; J.Logano 121-143; S.Caisse 144-150.
