Logano holds off Kurt Busch to win at Talladega

For the first time since last April, Joey Logano claimed a NASCAR victory, winning the Geico 500.

Joey Logano won Sunday's Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory since last April.

Logano led 70 of the 188 laps and held off Kurt Busch on the final lap for his 19th Cup victory. Chase Elliott finished third, Kevin Harvick was fourth and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fifth.

David Ragan, Aric Almirola, Alex Bowman, Ryan Newman and Daniel Suarez rounded out the top 10.

"I'm so proud to get this team back in Victory Lane – it's been a year," Logano said in Victory Lane. "It feels so good to be back in Victory Lane. There is no feeling like this. It feels so good.

"It's been a long time coming. We've been getting consistent.  We've been scoring points, and we knew a win was just around the corner. I don't have to worry about the whole play-off thing anymore."

As is the norm for restrictor plate tracks, wrecks were pivotal in the outcome. The biggest pileup was on lap 165 and collected 14 cars.

Jimmie Johnson set off the major crash when he got loose in front of rookie Hendrick Motorsports team-mate William Byron. Among those knocked out of the race in the wreck were Byron, five-time Talladega winner Brad Keselowski, Paul Menard, Clint Bowyer and Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon. Johnson went on to finish 12th.

A six-car pileup on lap 71 ended the day for Kyle Larson, Erik Jones and Trevor Bayne.

Next up in the Cup Series is the AAA 400 Drive for Autism on May 6 at Dover International Speedway.