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Logano wins Nationwide at Chicago

Joey Logano scored a categorical victory against his team-mate Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway

The race unfolded as a two-man battle between Joe Gibbs Racing team-mates Logano and Busch, with both taking turns at the front of the field.

However, in the end the younger of the two was able to remain in control, fending off a late charge from Busch who couldn't make a grip advantage work in his favour.

Carl Edwards started the race from pole but lost the lead on lap 18 to Logano, who remained up front until the first round of stops. He looked unchallenged during the following stint and led the field into the pits when the first caution waved.

However Busch's crew was faster in the pits, putting its driver up front for the following restart.

When the green flag waved Brian Vickers passed Logano and went in hot pursuit of Busch, while the teenager had his hands full trying to fend off Kevin Harvick and Edwards. He eventually succeeded, and then started to close the gap on the leaders, although he would not get near enough to challenge Busch.

Following the final round of stops the situation did not change much at the front and the lack of caution periods seemed to freeze the race for a while. However on his final set of tyres, Logano rapidly closed the gap to Busch and on lap 175 he took the lead of the race and opened up a safe gap up front.

That was until ten laps later, when the caution came out for only the second time during the day due to debris on the track. Logano chose to stay out on the track leading, while Busch went for two new tyres as did Vickers and Biffle. Both Edwards and Harvick took on a full new set for the final ten-lap sprint.

On the restart Logano was able to stay ahead, while Busch came from third to second, putting the pressure on his young team-mate. But as tyre temperatures went up, Busch struggled to stay with Logano while Vickers started to look bigger in his mirrors, leaving the 19-year-old to beat him in a head-to-head battle for the third time this year.

"We thought we got beat there at the end," Logano said. "Everyone pitted but us and [Jason Leffler]. We were thinking we would need to try to come home with a second [place] at least. But the clean air was big. This is the same car we won Kentucky with, so this thing is that good. It's awesome we're racing with these guys.

"If you look at my victories it's always been a one-two finish between me and Kyle, so that's pretty neat. That's awesome for Joe Gibbs Racing."

Busch as usual was disappointed with being second, especially to his team-mate. However, for the sixth week in a row he has finished the race in the top two spots, further increasing his gap in the championship where Logano is not a factor as he is only running a limited schedule.

"About two laps after the restart if I could have got onto his outside I might have had him," Busch said. "But just could never make the move on him. His car was really strong tonight, ours wasn't and it just wasn't the best car. Joey had that by far and it's unfortunate we had to settle for second tonight. It wasn't meant to be... Great points night."

Vickers finished a strong third, while Leffler, who stayed out with Logano on the final caution, completed a sweep of the top four places by Toyota drivers, a first in the history of the Nationwide Series. Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five ahead of the Roush duo of Edwards and Biffle.

Brad Keselowski continued to lose ground in the championship battle, finishing only 12th following a delayed first pitstop after he ran out of fuel. It took a while before he was able to restart his car and he lost a lap in the process.

Later on, right after Busch lapped him again, he nearly took him out of the race after hitting him from behind on the tri-oval.

Busch is now 192 points ahead of Edwards in the standings, while Keselowski is already 334 points behind in third.

Pos  Driver                  Make        Laps
 1.  Joey Logano             Toyota       200
 2.  Kyle Busch              Toyota       200
 3.  Brian Vickers           Toyota       200
 4.  Jason Leffler           Toyota       200
 5.  Kevin Harvick           Chevrolet    200
 6.  Carl Edwards            Ford         200
 7.  Greg Biffle             Ford         200
 8.  David Reutimann         Toyota       200
 9.  Mike Bliss              Chevrolet    200
10.  Justin Allgaier         Dodge        200
11.  Jeff Burton             Chevrolet    200
12.  Trevor Bayne            Toyota       199
13.  Brendan Gaughan         Chevrolet    199
14.  Paul Menard             Ford         198
15.  Scott Wimmer            Chevrolet    198
16.  Steve Wallace           Chevrolet    198
17.  Michael Annett          Toyota       198
18.  Brad Keselowski         Chevrolet    197
19.  Jason Keller            Ford         197
20.  Scott Lagasse Jr        Toyota       197
21.  John Wes Townley        Ford         197
22.  Ryan Newman             Chevrolet    197
23.  Tony Raines             Chevrolet    196
24.  Joe Nemechek            Chevrolet    196
25.  Michael McDowell        Dodge        196
26.  Shelby Howard           Chevrolet    196
27.  Kenny Wallace           Chevrolet    196
28.  Robert Richardson Jr    Chevrolet    195
29.  Danny O'Quinn Jr        Chevrolet    194
30.  Dennis Setzer           Dodge        194
31.  Eric McClure            Ford         194
32.  Matt Carter             Ford         189
33.  Mike Harmon             Chevrolet    185
34.  David Ragan             Ford         107
35.  Jeremy Clements         Chevrolet     92
36.  Derrike Cope            Dodge         24
37.  Casey Atwood            Ford          19
38.  Mike Wallace            Chevrolet     19
39.  Kevin Lepage            Dodge         15
40.  Kelly Bires             Toyota         8
41.  Terry Cook              Chevrolet      6
42.  Kertus Davis            Chevrolet      2
43.  Mark Green              Chevrolet      1

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