Joe Gibbs Racing developmental drivers take top two spots

Thursday night at PIR was a night to remember for the 1-2 punch of Joe Gibbs Racing - and stars Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin were nowhere to be seen.

16-year-old JGR developmental driver and Connecticut native Joey Logano seized the lead from David Mayhew late in the AlphaTrade.com 150 NASCAR Grand National Division West Series race and never looked back, edging teammate Marc Davis in a green-white-checkered finish which extended the PIR season opener to 158 laps.

The event was Logano's first in the West Series. Just a junior in high school, Logano felt fortunate to win his opening event on a track as prominent as PIR - especially on a night when other people his age are most likely heading to bed in preparation for a morning geography class.

"Forget about winning," said the driver of the No. 10 Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet. "It's awesome just to race at a great track like Phoenix. One-for-one, my first event, that's hard to beat."

Davis, of Mooresville, N.C. and also a junior in high school, completed the front row sweep for the Gibbs developmental program, finishing only 1.3 seconds behind Logano in his No. 92 Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet.

"I wish we could've gotten the win but if we've got to lose I'm glad it could be to a teammate," Davis said.

Next weekend, Logano begins a full-time schedule in the NASCAR Busch East Series, as does Davis. On Thursday at PIR, however, the teenage threats kept their high-speed acts in the West, stunning a veteran field under the lights.

Bright Lights. Big Party. NASCAR at Night! Friday night's fiesta is the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Busch Series race. Then, the action reaches its pinnacle when the cars and stars of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series take the track for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™, the first night race of the 2007 NEXTEL Cup Season. Tickets are now on sale for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ weekend at PIR and can be purchased online at www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-866-408-7223. For additional information on the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ Weekend, visit www.phoenixraceway.com or call 623-463-5600.