AVONDALE, Ariz. — Perhaps there was “something” that seemed almost inevitable about Joey Logano‘s impressive run to his third NASCAR Cup Championship Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.
The 34-year-old Connecticut native, father-of-three and perpetual race and title contender once again proved why competitors can never take him lightly and shouldn’t count him out. He is not one to mince words and is absolutely convinced he can win every single time he climbs into his No. 22 Team Penske Ford to race.
That confidence and bravado powers him and his team. And it‘s been, well, very effective.
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“I knew we were capable, this team and myself and the more pressure I could put on myself the better I‘m going to be,” Logano said Sunday from the Champion‘s Stage. “I don‘t know what that is, but it seems like the Playoffs are always better for the 22 and it‘s not just myself that thrives under pressure, it‘s my whole team. And it‘s contagious. If we can bring that confidence and believe it, we are very dangerous.
“We‘ve got a really great group all the way through, and our pit crew delivered in the end when it needed to,” he added. “I‘m so fortunate to be in this car.”
Even before Sunday‘s 312-lap race for the trophy, Logano‘s team was penalized for failing initial technical inspection and lost his choice of pit stall for the big race. On Sunday, he had to overcome a slow first pit stop and lost a vital crewman to illness mid-race.
And then ultimately, Logano — who led 107 laps — had to hold off a hard-charging defending series champion — his Penske teammate — Ryan Blaney in the closing laps at Phoenix to have the chance to hoist the Bill France Cup for a third time (2018, 2022, 2024) — most among all active full-time drivers.
So, the exuberance Logano showed on the Phoenix victory stage, taking his young family on track to the flag-stand with him to retrieve that important championship checkered flag was heartfelt and heart-spoken. His very presence in the Championship 4 was a “bonus” chance to race for the championship — restored to the title chase eligibility following the Round of 8 elimination race when Hendrick Motorsports‘ Alex Bowman was dropped from the field and Logano re-inserted. A four-race winner this season, he did not waste the opportunity.
The combination of Logano and team owner Roger Penske presents one of the most powerful pairings in NASCAR history. This is the third consecutive championship for the NASCAR Hall of Famer owner Penske — with Logano (2022) Blaney (2023) and Logano (2024) — and the fifth title of Penske‘s career.
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The Logano and Blaney one-two finish even gave Penske a new accolade — rare at this point in his career of mega-accomplishment – marking the first time in the championship team‘s history it had finished one-two in the NACAR Cup Series standings.
“It‘s just one thing, it‘s the people, the ones that have worked so hard with us.” Penske said when asked what it was about his team‘s perpetual run to success.
And as for that driver proudly, jubilantly hoisting a trophy Sunday night?
“When he puts the helmet on, there‘s nobody that gets after it like he does,” Penske said smiling.
Just this season, Penske‘s organization won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the WEC title, the Indianapolis 500 and now claims the NASCAR Cup Series title. Again.
It‘s an ever-mounting list of accomplishment and even the team‘s competitors appreciate this team‘s impact on the sport.
“I think it shows you not only what Joey‘s capable of behind the wheel but the whole team, the Penske organization,” said four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Hendrick Motorsports executive Jeff Gordon, whose driver William Byron finished third in the title chase.
“Joey is a heckuva champion. I knew when he got in [to the Championship 4] he‘d be a major threat, you can‘t ever count him out and he‘s obviously very experienced and very mature behind the wheel. And that team is obviously a very strong team.”
Blaney, who ultimately finished a slight .330-second behind his teammate Logano was disappointed to not become the first back-to-back series champion since Jimmie Johnson‘s five straight from 2006-2010. But even in defeat recognized what the efforts meant for the team — said about the team.
“I‘m really proud of our effort, proud of our year and at least a Penske car won the championship,” Blaney said.
“Obviously, I want to win, but if we couldn‘t we want the 22 to win and Roger and Ford get another championship. A Penske 1-2 in the championship, a lot to be proud of and it‘s really all we talked about was how great it would be for us two to battle it up and that‘s what it ended up with, I just didn‘t have the track position at the end. I‘m really happy for them and for Roger.”
“Joey is one of the best ever I feel like and he didn‘t make any mistakes,” Blaney continued. “That group does a good job of knowing what they need to do all the time and a testament to that whole team to rise to the occasion and Joey in particular to know what he needs to do behind the wheel to get it done.”
Contributing: Staff Reports
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