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Dustin Long

From Daytona to California, Dustin Long covers the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Read all of his stories on PilotOnline.com's Auto Racing channel. He also writes a regular column for SportsIllustrated.com. Follow him on Twitter.

A shocking day in New Hampshire

The day started with news that Bill Weber wouldn't be on TNT's broadcast Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, featured a Kyle Busch apology and ended with rookie Joey Logano winning a rain-shortened race and becoming the youngest driver in series history to win a Cup race.

 

On to the day:

 

# Who would have ever thought Logano would win the race? And that was before he fell a lap down two different times, spun and then nearly ran out of fuel. While everyone will call it a fluke _ and while he did what he had to at the end, this is still flukish _ David Reutimann, who won a rain-shortened 600, said that Logano shouldn't let what others say make this win any less memorable.

 

"Now ... you have to listen to people say how you lucked into the whole deal,'' Reutimann said after finishing fourth. "In the end, I hope he enjoys it because a win is a win and I don't think any less of mine because it's a rain-shortened race, so he shouldn't (either).''

 

There was a lot Logano had to overcome after the spin, which brought out the caution on lap 184 of what turned out to be a 273-lap race. Both left-side tires shredded and he drove back to the pits on the rims. Once there, what was left of the left rear was wrapped around the axle and the team lost a lap cutting it away. Then, a few laps later, Scott Speed wrecked. Logano was the only driver a lap down and got the Lucky Dog, getting his lap back. They pitted and had more fuel then anyone else. So, when everyone eventually pitted, Logano was in the lead and then the rain came out. Had it not stopped the race sooner, Logano would have had only a few more laps before he ran out of fuel.

 

He didn't and he's a Cup winner at age 19. Just think about what you were doing at 19 and then think about Logano winning a Cup race. Logano won't have much time to enjoy it. The series heads back to Daytona. Remember in February with his limited experience in a Cup car with a restrictor plate how lost he was then? It shouldn't be as difficult this time but it still won't be easy for him, so he should enjoy this and remember it on those bad days.

 

# A few drivers were upset with Kyle Busch after he tagged Martin Truex Jr. on a restart and 8 cars were collected. It started when Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a bad restart and bunched the field behind him. Guys had to check up on the gas but even as that happened, Busch hit Truex.

 

Said Truex: "I guess Kyle just decided he didn't want to lift, so I was just an innocent victim. Kyle just lost his head like he usually does when something bad happens.

 

Said Brian Vickers, who was collected in the crash: "I guess everybody just learns to expect Kyle doing something stupid. Stupid is forever.''

 

Said Kyle after finishing seventh: "I got into Martin and I hate it for him and Jeff Burton and those guys,’’ Busch said. “It’s just hard racing on a restart. I just got into (Truex) and got him sideways. Unfortunately for those guys, tore up some good race cars.’’

 

# Scott Speed's battle with teammate Brian Vickers seems to be continuing. They both banged into each other on the last lap of Saturday's Nationwide race as they battled for fifth and then hit each other on the cool-down lap. Askead about his incident Sunday, Spee said: "I think the car behind us got into us a little bit, obviously, and spun us out. Maybe Brian paid someone off for yesterday, I don't know.''

 

# TNT announced before the race that Bill Weber would not be a part of Sunday's broadcast. The network said it was a personal matter and wouldn't reveal why Weber was not announcing the race when he had been in town earlier this weekend. The Charlotte Observer, citing unnamed witness, reported that Weber had a loud, public confrontation at his N.H. hotel over the weekend.

 

# Did you see who was in the top 10?

 

David Reutimann pulled out a fourth. Brad Keselowski placed sixth and Sam Hornish Jr finished eight. All strong finishes for those guys.

 

# The battle for the final transfer spot for the Chase is getting tighter. Juan Pablo Montoya is in 12th. He leads Kasey Kahne by one point and Reutimann by 12 points with nine races to go before the field is set.

 

# Joey Logano is the first rookie driver to win since Montoya won at Sonoma two years ago. ... Logano's win keeps the No. 20 team's streak alive. That team, which had Tony Stewart as its driver every year until this season, has won at least one race a year every season.

 

# Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 13th. Not great but not bad for that team. Small steps. That's what it is going to take for this team to get stronger.

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First Rookie?

You said: "Joey Logano is the first rookie driver to win since Montoya won at Sonoma two years ago"

Isn't Brian Kesolowski considered a rookie?

Rookies

I know you meant Brad Keselowski. In the sponsor-driven world of NASCAR, he did not sign up for the rookie program and is not eligible for rookie of the year status. So in that sense Brad (who won at Dega) is not a rookie. Yet, it is his first year. You can go either way on it. What I should I have written is that he's the first rookie of the year candidate to win since Montoya. That would have cleared it up better. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the note.

Bummer

I just hate rain shortened races!! LOL

Loudon

10 more laps and Jr would have had a better finish.

Logano and BK were lucky. I think BK had a better, clean race, but the 20 came home in the top spot.

No one complains when Edwards wins a race using fuel mileage or Jr. hangs on just before the rain. While the best cars didn't finish where they eventually would have, you can't take anything away from the others.

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