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After witnessing the recent surge in his #22 Ford's performance, Joey Logano is confident of placing his ride in the Championship 4 race. The Team Penske driver pointed out that their regular season is "not looking too good" and emphasized going for the wins in the remaining four races before the playoffs begin.
Logano's footing into the current season started on a lackluster note. Until his triumph at the million-dollar All-Star Race at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, the Connecticut native collected a solitary top-5 and three top-10 finishes. However, since his triumphant run at the NWS, the #22 Ford Mustang driver has collected a win at the Nashville Superspeedway, three top-5s, and four top-10s.
Moreover, every driver on Team Penske's roster has bagged at least one regular-season win this year. Ryan Blaney has reigned supreme twice at the Iowa Speedway and Pocono Raceway, and Austin Cindric has claimed one win at the World Wide Technology Raceway.
"We haven't scored many playoff points at this point. We got a stage win, we got a race win but we need to figure out how to get more playoff points. Winning this weekend will be the best thing, [and] get stage points. Getting into the top 10 in points for us in the regular season is not looking too good for us," Joey Loganosaid via Sirius XM NASCAR Radio on X (0:31).
"We gotta be all or nothing. We gotta go for the win now for the next four weeks, and then you got to start points racing again when you get into the playoffs... You gotta be able to get through the rounds and put yourselves in the position to get to the Championship 4. I feel good, we can get there for sure," he added.
The playoffs will commence at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 8, and Phoenix Raceway will mark the season-finale race — the Championship 4 battle — on November 10. Currently, Joey Logano is placed 15th in the regular-season standings.
"The goal is not just to make the playoffs" - Joey Logano after sealing his season's first win at the Nashville Superspeedway
Joey Logano snapped his 49-race winless streak by triumphing at the Nashville Superspeedway on June 30 this year. His last win before this came at the Atlanta Motor Speedway the previous year. Despite bagging the pole thrice since his 2023 victory, the #22 Ford driver couldn't bring his ride into the victory lane.
After converting his 26th-place start into a race win, Logano, during an interview with Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass, said his ultimate goal was to take home the championship and not just place his ride among the top 16 drivers.
"I don't know that it changed the complexion of the season a whole bunch. We are in, which is great. The goal is not just to make the playoffs. The goal is to win the championship all the time. So that's one step of the stepping stones there," he said.
Joey Logano is eyeing to rake in his third Cup Series championship. However, his pursuit will be challenged by his teammate and defending champion Ryan Blaney, who sits in fifth place as of now.
