Logano and Hamlin Take Stages 1 and 2 at Texas Motor Speedway

Toby Christie
March 31, 2019

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Joey Logano (22) leads Jimmie Johnson (48) during the opening Stage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo Credit: Caleb Pifer (@CSPiferPhotos) / TobyChristie.com

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jimmie Johnson led 60 of the 85 laps in Stage 1 from the pole, but as different pit road strategies played out it was Joey Logano who led Johnson and the rest of the 39-car field to the stripe to win Stage 1.

Denny Hamlin cruising during Stage 2 of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo Credit: Caleb Pifer (@CSPiferPhotos) / TobyChristie.com

Although Denny Hamlin has suffered through issues all day long (he missed pit road and suffered a pit road speeding penalty in Stage 1), he rebounded to win Stage 2. What was impressive is that Hamlin won the Stage despite not changing tires on his mid-stage pit stop.

Hamlin held off Kyle Busch and others with old tires.

Toby Christie

Toby is the Founder of TobyChristie.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Racing America. Toby is also the co-host of The Final Lap Weekly Podcast. Additionally, he is an award-winning writer, and has followed the sport as a fan since 1993.