Joey Logano delivered a stunning performance on Sunday, rallying from a 27th starting position to capture an overtime victory at Texas Motor Speedway in the eleventh race of the Cup Series season. This win was especially significant, as Logano, the defending Cup champion, had yet to secure a top-five finish in the season’s first ten races, making his breakthrough both dramatic and much anticipated.
After the race, Joey Logano reflected on the challenging nature of the sport, telling FS1,
The sport changes so quickly. It’s crazy. If you can just ride these roller coasters. Just proud of the team.
His victory not only ended his personal winless streak but also marked him as the ninth different winner in the last nine races held at Texas Motor Speedway. With this result, Logano captured the 37th win of his Cup career, tying him with Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time win list—a notable achievement highlighting his perseverance and skill.
The race was filled with intense competition and numerous incidents, as it was interrupted by 12 cautions, seven of which came during the frantic final stage. Ross Chastain, starting from the 31st position, managed to secure a season-best second place, showcasing the unpredictable and competitive nature of the event. Ryan Blaney, overcoming a pit road speeding penalty, raced to third. Kyle Larson, who led a race-high 90 laps, ultimately finished fourth after losing the lead to Michael McDowell on a late restart. Erik Jones rounded out the top five with his first top-10 finish of the year.
Key moments defined the race’s closing laps. Larson, who appeared strong for much of the event, described his setback, saying,
You don’t want to give up the lead on a mile and a half. It’s hard to get it back. Yeah, Michael just did a good job timing it.
Michael McDowell briefly surged to the front after a two-tire pit stop, but his hopes were dashed when Logano passed him on Lap 264, followed by McDowell’s wreck as he was overtaken by Blaney, relegating him to a 26th-place finish.
The chaotic final stage saw several contenders sidelined, including a major six-car wreck on Lap 173, which removed AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, Noah Gragson, and Bubba Wallace from contention. Earlier, Josh Berry crashed out from the lead, bringing out the caution at Lap 126, and finishing 32nd. Austin Cindric and Kyle Larson won Stages 1 and 2, respectively, adding to the drama of the day.
Joey Logano’s overtime win at Texas Motor Speedway represents a pivotal moment in his season, potentially revitalizing his championship defense and energizing his team. As the Cup Series now shifts its focus to Kansas Speedway, attention will turn to whether Logano can build on this momentum, while competitors look to break the streak of different winners at Texas and assert their own championship ambitions.
