Logano Wins All-Star Showdown
Posted January 30, 2010; Source - NASCAR Communications; By Jason Cunnigham

IRWINDALE, Calif. – Joey Logano got his second NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown trophy and Sergio Pena nearly made a historic debut on the national stage.

Logano (pictured to the right, onleft), 19, held off the 16-year-old Pena (pictured to the right, on right) and two-time race winner Matt Kobyluck for the victory in the 225-lap race Saturday before a sold-out crowd at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.

It was Pena's first career race in NASCAR's top developmental series and it came in the non-points, postseason event, which has earned the moniker the "Daytona 500 of short-track racing."

Logano made his mark by winning as a 17-year-old rookie in the 2007 edition; Pena, who only has one year of Late Model racing on his resume, nearly out-did that.

Logano and Pena waged a race-long battle for the lead from drop of the green. For most of the race it was the Pena in heated pursuit of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year. Pena was able to grab the lead on several occasions. Logano, however, got the best of two late-race restarts to pull away for the victory.

Kobyluck got by Pena briefly on Lap 218, and by the time Pena got back to second four laps later he didn't have enough time to track Logano back down.

Logano wound up leading a race-high 171 laps. Pena led the other 54 and they swapped the lead five times. Following Logano, Pena and Kobyluck across the line was Matt DiBenedetto and Andrew Myers. Eric Holmes, David Mayhew, Eddie MacDonald, Paulie Harraka and Steve Park rounded out the top 10.

Reigning NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion Jason Bowles finished 11th while K&N Pro Series East 2009 titlist Ryan Truex was relegated to 26th after a late-race accident.

It's been a whirlwind weekend for Pena, a Winchester, Va., native.

Pena, driving for Revolution Racing and Drive For Diversity, beat out three teammates Thursday in a race-off for a chance to qualify for the Showdown. He easily did that, earning the pole in Friday's qualifying.

The win was a vindication, of sorts, for Logano, who crossed the line first in last year’s NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, but was penalized to last place for aggressive driving on the last lap.

This was the second year the postseason event was held in January. The first five - 2003-2007 - were held in the Fall.

UNOFFICIAL FINISHING ORDER
Showing finish, start, car number driver name

1. 2 25 Joey Logano
2. 1 4 Sergio Pena
3. 14 40 Matt Kobyluck
4. 11 98 Matt DiBenedetto
5. 13 77 Andrew Myers
6. 4 20 Eric Holmes
7. 24 17 David Mayhew
8. 17 71 Eddie MacDonald
9. 16 12 Paulie Harraka
10. 23 35 Steve Park
11. 10 6 Jason Bowles
12. 22 1 Jim Inglebright
13. 6 46 Jeff Barkshire
14. 36 70 Nick Joanides
15. 26 19 Andrew Ranger
16. 3 26 Greg Pursley
17. 30 11 Jason Patison
18. 39 14 Troy Ermish
19. 38 7 Kyle Kelley
20. 40 05 Justin Philpott
21. 20 29 Brennan Newberry
22. 29 15 Jack Sellers
23. 35 88 Michael Self
24. 37 62 Candace Muzny
25. 34 2 Daryl Harr
26. 9 00 Ryan Truex
27. 19 84 Jamie Dick
28. 8 9 Josh Combs
29. 27 63 John Salemi
30. 28 16 Moses Smith
31. 33 22 Jonathon Gomez
32. 12 50 Auggie Vidovich
33. 31 53 Derek Ramstrom
34. 18 61 Brett Thompson
35. 21 21 Blake Koch
36. 15 76 Brian Johnson, Jr.
37. 5 31 Sean Caisse
38. 7 89 David Gilliland
39. 25 36 George Brunnhoelzl, III
40. 32 55 Johnathan Hale

RACE STATISTICS

• Fastest Qualifier: Sergio Pena, Time: 18.39 Seconds, Speed: 97.879 mph
• Failed to Qualify: (5) Ruben Rovelo (#86), Willy Boucenna (#91), Paul Pedroncelli, Jr. (#0), Beto Montiero (#23), Justin Funkhouser (#5).
• Time of Race: 2 hrs., 4 mins, 25 secs Average Speed: 54.253 mph Margin of Victory: .584 Seconds
• Caution Flags: Laps 13-16 (Car #29 spins Front Stretch); 36-40 (Car #2 accident Turn 4); 52-56 (Car #61 spin Turn 2); 64-67 (Car #62 spin Turn 2);95-98 (Car #36 accident Turn 1); 100-102 (Car #89 stall Front Stretch); 111-116 (Car #21 spin); 130-133 (Cars #31and #50 accident Front Stretch); 135-141 (Cars #1 and #14 spin Turn 3); 145-150 (Car #1 spin Turn 2); 169-172 (Car #00 spin Turn 2); 185-191 (Cars #16 and #50 accident Back Stretch; Cars #22 and #46 accident Turn 4); 201-202 (Break); 205-212 (Cars #00, #46, #62, #84, #70, #11 accident Turn 2); 215-217 (Car #88 accident Turn 3). 15 for 72 laps.
• Lap Leaders: Sergio Pena 1, Joey Logano 2-105, Sergio Pena 106-133, Joey Logano 134-177, Sergio Pena 178-202, Joey Logano 203-225.
• Total Laps Led: Joey Logano 171, Sergio Pena 54. 5 changes involving 2 drivers.

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

• 21 MEANS 21 POLE AWARD PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT: Sergio Pena, 4 Freightliner Chevrolet
• COCA-COLA MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Nick Joanides, 70 ProCast/Eagle Transport/Jan's Towing Ford
• FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER EAST: Matt Kobyluck, 40 Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino Chevrolet
• FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER WEST: Eric Holmes, 20 NAPA Toyota
• SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD: Paulie Harraka *, 12 NAPA Filters Toyota
• WIX LAP LEADER AWARD: Joey Logano, 25 The Home Depot Toyota