Joey Logano wins at Phoenix, becomes three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion
Three-time! Joey Logano is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and he is officially the best of the Championship 4 era. Say whatever you want about this system, whatever you want about Logano himself, this 22 team knows how to get it done.
Team Penske was going to have a champion one way or another today. Ryan Blaney was running Joey Logano down late but couldn’t get the pass made.
Even years, winning at Las Vegas – there is just something about it. Logano joins Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, and Tony Stewart as three-time champions. Only Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon have more.
Joey Logano wins at Phoenix and claims his third Bill France Cup. Sliced Bread turned out pretty good after all. 2018, 2022, 2024. Logano knows how to win in this win-and-advance/win-and-in system. Penske knows exactly how to navigate it, and you have to give them kudos for that.
Everyone knows the rules at the beginning of the season. Teams don’t compete for the season-long points anymore, and they don’t strategize that way, either. What Team Penske is able to do, every other team in the Cup garage wishes they could do.
Joey Logano shows off in Stage 1
It was a strong showing from Joey Logano in the opening stint of today’s championship race. It was looking like it would be his race to lose with how he was able to distance himself from the field.
Logano started P2 and he found himself in the lead after an early caution. Ty Gibbs slammed into the wall after getting loose. It was a hard hit and an early exit from the season finale for the 22-year-old.
The Championship 4 were feeling one another out, seeing who had what kind of speed. Team Penske definitely showed that they were likely the cars to beat. Logano and teammate Ryan Blaney were the most impressive in Stage 1.
Ryan Blaney takes Stage 2 over Champ 4 teammate
While Logano was great in Stage 1, Blaney showed his short-run speed in Stage 2. It was a performance that proved Penske were the ones to beat. Byron solidified himself as the third best with Reddick lagging behind.
Christopher Bell, fired up about Martinsville last week, was making life Hell for these championship drivers. He didn’t give Blaney, Logano, or Byron any mercy. With how talented Bell is, you definitely don’t need him mad and racing to prove a point.
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Logano had to make a pit crew change after his jackman fell ill. It would be one of the more interesting parts of the race, throwing a wrench into his pit crew’s plans.
This stage set us up for a final stint where the championship drivers separated themselves on strategy. Rudy Fugle had a trick up his sleeve to try and win this championship for Byron and Hendrick Motorsports.
Logano and Blaney go to the wire at Phoenix
With the Team Penske duo winning the stages, it was a two-car battle. In this final stage, William Byron was able to take the lead with a varied tire strategy. However, it would not play out how the 24 team planned it.
Despite Blaney running Logano down late in this race, it wasn’t enough. Logano had enough space and Blaney wasn’t going to make contact to make the pass on his teammate. A really strong performance from the 22 team today.
Logano now has three championships, 36 wins, and 31 poles in his career. He is only 34 years old, likely with another decade left in his career should he want to pursue it. From his days as the next big thing in NASCAR to flaming out at Joe Gibbs to his resurrection with Team Penske – it’s been a wild ride.
Team Penske has now three-peated. Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano. They own the Next Gen era right now. The beginning of this season did not look like a championship season. But with four wins in the final 18 races, Logano did everything he had to to win.
Logano has three championships since the Championship 4 format started. When we look back on this era and style of NASCAR Cup Series racing, his name will be at or near the top of that list.