Joey Logano wins the World Wide Technology Raceway NASCAR Cup Enjoy Illinois 300

Click here for race action photos

Click here for more race action photos

A sellout crowd at World Wide Technology was treated to an exciting race…especially the race ending.

Kyle Busch was leading Joey Logano in the waning laps, but Kevin Harvick’s car blew a tire sending him into the wall bringing out a caution. The crowd was then treated to an exciting Green-White-Checker flag overtime finish.

Ryan Blaney, Logano’s teammate, lined up behind Logano at the restart and gave him a push that let Logano get to the lead going into turn one. Then Busch crossed underneath to take the lead but could not hold on turn three as Logano crossed under Busch as he slid up the track. Logano then held on to win the race that had 13 different lead changes.

“Fun Racing,” is how Logano described the ending. “Kyle and I have raced each other for a long time now.  Kyle is one of the best in the sport.”

But the real winner was St. Louis metropolitan area. NASCAR Cup finally came to St. Louis. Since the mid 1990’s when the oval was built at Gateway International Raceway, (the previous name of the World Wide Technology Raceway) the Illinois / Missouri race fans have been hoping each year that track would be on the NASCAR Cup schedule. Finally in 2022 the hopes were answered when NASCAR awarded this race to Curtis Francois owner of WWT Raceway.

“Thanks for coming out, guys,” Logano said after the racing the cheering crowd. “I hope you enjoyed that race. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Kurt Busch finished 3rd followed by Ryan Blaney in 4th and Aric Almirola in 5th.

Logano has a knack for winning Inaugural events. Earlier this year he won the Busch Clash race in California and last year he won the inaugural event at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track.

“I think it’s a combination of a lot of things.” said Logano. “For one, I think our team does a good job at adapting quickly. I think in general just you’ve got to be open-minded and do things quickly, learn quickly. I think that’s what it’s about right now.”

Story/photos by Kevin Proot / stlracing.com

Photos by Larry Vancil / sltracing.com

POS	CAR	DRIVER	MANUF	DELTA	LAPS	LAST LAP	BEST TIME	BEST SPEED	BEST LAP
1	22	Joey Logano		—	244	130.129	33.224	135.444	234
2	18	Kyle Busch		0.308	244	128.862	33.192	135.575	194
3	45	Kurt Busch		0.513	244	128.947	33.280	135.216	234
4	12	Ryan Blaney		0.516	244	128.696	33.207	135.514	57
5	10	Aric Almirola		0.867	244	128.110	33.268	135.265	193
6	43	Erik Jones		0.900	244	127.747	33.460	134.489	197
7	1	Ross Chastain		0.988	244	128.012	33.274	135.241	115
8	19	Martin Truex Jr.		1.117	244	127.569	33.236	135.395	153
9	20	Christopher Bell		1.316	244	127.187	33.447	134.541	153
10	16	AJ Allmendinger(i)		1.411	244	127.007	33.550	134.128	233
11	2	Austin Cindric #		1.571	244	126.664	33.408	134.698	3
12	48	Alex Bowman		1.775	244	126.075	33.453	134.517	211
13	5	Kyle Larson		1.795	244	126.689	33.613	133.877	137
14	31	Justin Haley		1.886	244	126.022	33.600	133.929	233
15	3	Austin Dillon		1.974	244	126.174	33.574	134.032	193
16	17	Zane Smith(i)		2.085	244	126.532	33.685	133.591	157
17	34	Michael McDowell		2.168	244	126.853	33.498	134.336	109
18	8	Tyler Reddick		2.257	244	125.941	33.463	134.477	156
19	24	William Byron		2.324	244	126.811	33.690	133.571	233
20	9	Chase Elliott		2.510	244	126.550	33.647	133.741	88
21	14	Chase Briscoe		2.604	244	126.554	33.415	134.670	2
22	38	Todd Gilliland #		2.623	244	126.964	33.785	133.195	115
23	6	Brad Keselowski		2.662	244	127.660	33.709	133.496	115
24	99	Daniel Suarez		2.799	244	127.786	33.545	134.148	157
25	23	Bubba Wallace		3.015	244	126.330	33.697	133.543	61
26	21	Harrison Burton #		3.024	244	127.739	33.686	133.587	214
27	77	Josh Bilicki(i)		3.202	244	125.285	33.927	132.638	151
28	42	Ty Dillon		3.285	244	127.576	33.672	133.642	156
29	41	Cole Custer		3.558	244	125.244	33.681	133.606	193
30	78	BJ McLeod		3.990	244	125.656	34.225	131.483	119
31	15	Parker Kligerman(i)		4.018	244	124.430	34.265	131.329	119
32	47	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.		-4	240	125.593	33.696	133.547	231
33	4	Kevin Harvick		-9	235	132.427	33.557	134.100	213
34	11	Denny Hamlin		-11	233	124.474	33.600	133.929	4
35	51	Cody Ware		-78	166	86.760	33.977	132.443	116
36	7	Corey LaJoie		-172	72	126.358	34.179	131.660	6