Joey Logano led home team-mate Brad Keselowski for a Penske one-two at the NASCAR Cup’s visit to Richmond after going from last to first.
He was sent to the back of the grid, having originally qualified fifth, for a transmission change but made up ground early on, helped by an early pitstop for a caution caused by Erik Jones hitting the wall.
Logano steadily progressed up the order, picking off cars and hitting the top five at the pitstop phase under the seventh caution of the race.
Penske risked it at the following caution, the penultimate one of the race, by keeping Keselowski and Logano out on track and Logano then snatched the lead from his team-mate.
The gamble paid off when the final caution was trigged by Ryan Blaney hitting the wall with a punctured tyre, a regular trend throughout the race.
Penske pitted their drivers but several others from the midfield stayed out, giving them a tough task in the run to the flag. But fresher tyres meant Logano quickly moved up to second and then took the lead.
He went on to win his first NASCAR Cup race of the season, in his 300th start, with stage two winner Keselowski seven tenths behind him. Denny Hamlin was strong throughout and finished third.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr survived a brush with the wall early on to claim fourth, ahead of Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman. Kurt Busch, Aric Almirola and Martin Truex Jr completed the top 10.
Kyle Busch had looked to challenge for victory but two pitlane penalties dropped him to 16th, while polesitter and stage one winner Matt Kenseth was 23rd following a late puncture.
