But if there were a place for Scott, who is fourth in the Rookie of the Year standings, to break through, Talladega was it.
Scott was the top qualifier for the 2014 Aaron's 499, taking the pole for Richard Childress Racing in his fifth career start. His prior three Cup finishes at the 2.66-mile, restrictor-plate track — 42nd, 43rd and 30th — weren't cause for optimism. But he placed 10th and 11th in his first two Nationwide (now Xfinity) Series appearances, and he led 10 laps en route to a second-place finish in last year's Winn-Dixie 300, where he also trailed Logano.
Logano was not in a must-win situation in the final race of the Round of 12, but the victory helps the 2014 finalist and 2015 wins leader.
"Feels good to win on a clutch moment like that with the pressure on," Logano said. "I think we ran like a champ."
Hamlin scrambled through the final turn to tie Austin Dillon for eighth in points, and he advanced due to a higher average finish in the past three races.
"I wasn't sure whether I needed to finish third," Hamlin said. "(Dillon's) fighting and getting positions. He could change two positions in the last hundred yards. So you can't really predict it. I knew I just had to try to finish as good as I could."
Championship favorite Martin Truex Jr., who won two first-round races, was eliminated 41 laps in due to engine failure. Brad Keselowski, the 2013 Sprint Cup champion, led 90 laps in this race before losing his engine with 43 to go.
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The Cincinnati Reds are down to their fourth and fifth catchers after placing two more on the injured list. Curt Casali went on the 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain and Kyle Farmer was placed on the seven-day concussion list.
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