AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Joey Logano was out of the playoff race until a competitor’s disqualification gave him a second chance. When Alex Bowman was disqualified, Logano seized the opportunity to re-enter the playoffs.
Once added to the round of eight, he immediately headed to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he clinched victory in the third-round opener. This win secured his spot in the final championship race at Phoenix Raceway, giving him three weeks to prepare his Ford for the title showdown.
Logano’s preparation paid off, as he claimed his third NASCAR Cup Series championship, showcasing a nearly flawless performance to fend off his teammate Ryan Blaney. This victory marked Team Penske’s third significant motorsports title within just a month and their third consecutive NASCAR championship.
After qualifying second, Logano confidently predicted his victory, stating, “Yeah, I do. I feel like our car is strong. We just have to put our foot on their throats.” His assertive approach exemplified his trust in his team’s ability to thrive under pressure.
Team owner Roger Penske acknowledged Logano’s determination, saying, “I might have used different words, but that’s OK. When you win, you can say whatever you want, I guess.”
During the final laps, Logano maintained his lead, finishing just 0.330 seconds ahead of Blaney. Blaney, who sought to be the first driver since Jimmie Johnson to win back-to-back championships, graciously expressed his happiness for the team, stating, “At least a Penske car won it.”
With this victory, Logano became the 10th driver in NASCAR history to secure three or more championships, joining Kyle Busch as the only active driver with multiple titles. Logano reflected on the experience, saying, “I love the playoffs, I love it man. What a team, what a Penske battle there at the end. Three of them? That’s truly special.”
This accomplishment also marked the first instance in Team Penske’s history where the organization finished first and second in the championship standings. It followed the recent titles acquired by Penske’s sports car team in the IMSA series and his World Endurance Championship team.
Penske expressed concerns during the closing moments, fearing that his two drivers might collide, jeopardizing their championship aspirations. He also commended long-term sponsor Shell-Pennzoil for supporting their efforts, especially with its branding on Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden’s vehicle.
Blaney, feeling drained yet proud of the team’s success, echoed Penske’s sentiment about the team’s performance. “I’m happy to be 1-2 for Roger, three in a row for Roger, super amazing, and Ford,” he noted.
Penske, together with Ford, has now clinched three consecutive Cup Series championships, with Logano winning in 2022 and Blaney taking the title the previous year. Logano proudly declared, “One-two for Team Penske, three championships in a row, can’t be more proud of this team.”
The final race was a winner-take-all battle between Logano, Blaney, and competitors William Byron in a Chevrolet and Tyler Reddick from Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team. Byron finished third, and Reddick took sixth, marking Byron’s second consecutive finale appearance and Reddick’s first.
“Makes you hungrier, but also just more experience in what it takes,” Byron stated about his experience in high-stakes races. He acknowledged their progress throughout the season while recognizing the need for improvement on certain track types.
Reddick, who had taken a more reserved approach compared to the other contenders, still expressed pride in his team’s efforts. “Michael was just proud of the effort of our team all year long,” he said. “Put up a good fight. We didn’t make any mistakes that took ourselves out of it.”
Ultimately, all four championship contenders finished within the top six, with Reddick coming in behind Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, who led the most laps before being disqualified from a previous race. Logano, a 34-year-old from Connecticut, dominated the final race, leading for 107 laps, despite the earlier controversies surrounding his place in the final round.
Logano remarked on his team’s resilience under pressure, “The race started in Vegas for us. The amount of work and effort that went into building this race car right here, the amount of time, I don’t think anyone works harder than us. We were up at 6 in the morning this morning going over stuff.” His excitement showed through his words, as he praised his team’s hard work and determination.
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