Joey Logano of Team Penske Racing has rapidly emerged as the premier force of the NASCAR Next-Gen era, capturing two of three Cup Series championships since 2022 and consistently remaining a contender, regardless of his race pace on any given weekend. The torch, long held by Kevin Harvick—the storied driver who built his reputation as “The Closer”—appears to have passed, as Logano begins to mirror Harvick’s legacy of fierce late-race comebacks and unwavering drive when it matters most.
Kevin Harvick, who retired at the end of the 2023 season, left an indelible mark on NASCAR not just with wins and accolades, but with his uncanny ability to wait in the wings before making spectacular moves in the final laps. Known for not dominating early or leading the majority of laps, Harvick instead capitalized on critical moments late in the race, earning his revered nickname, “The Closer.” Joey Logano now stands poised to inherit this role, as he repeatedly proves his mettle under pressure, finding victory even on days where the odds or speed were not on his side.
This evolution in Logano’s racing approach has not gone unnoticed by industry experts. Senior NASCAR journalist Jordan Bianchi, in the most recent episode of The Teardown podcast from Dirty Mo Media, emphasized the significance of Logano assuming Kevin Harvick’s mantle. Bianchi remarked,
“Kevin Harvick is retired now. We need to take that ‘closer’ nickname that he had, and we should just give it to Joey Logano. Like, Logano is the new version of the ‘closer.’ Hands down, that is just what he does.”
Bianchi went further, highlighting that, excluding Superspeedways, Logano typically leads relatively few laps but still manages to position himself for victory by executing perfectly at critical junctures. He urged fans and commentators alike to bestow upon Logano the “Closer” title, once exclusively tethered to Kevin Harvick. As Bianchi noted,
“He doesn’t lead a bunch of laps in races anymore outside of superspeedways, but he just puts himself in position and if he’s got a shot to win, he closes it out. So, we should bestow him with that nickname.”
Despite this clutch ability, Logano faces stiff competition in the current NASCAR landscape, with drivers like Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Christopher Bell often dominating headlines and accumulating wins with regularity. Yet, Logano’s talent for capitalizing on opportunities in pivotal moments continues to set him apart, much like Kevin Harvick did throughout his storied career.
Dave Portnoy, host of the Rubbin Is Racing podcast and widely known as Large, added weight to Logano’s credentials, suggesting that while the No.22 Ford driver may not always top statistical categories, his performance during high-pressure situations is unparalleled in the series.
“Joey Logano is the best driver right now for the Cup Series… Name me a better one right now. I don’t mean the best driver overall, I mean the best Cup Series driver right now is Joey Logano,”
Portnoy stated, underscoring Logano’s championship wins. He questioned the current standings, referencing Logano’s recent success, and declared,
“This guy has won two out of the last three… I don’t know what else this guy has to do to climb up those rankings.”
As Logano continues to forge his own path while echoing the legacy of Kevin Harvick, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the “Closer” nickname is finding a new home. NASCAR, ever evolving, is witnessing a generational shift as established talents pass their torches to emerging icons. The discussion now centers not just on trophies or consistency, but on the intangible element of clutch performance—an area where Kevin Harvick set the standard and Joey Logano now thrives.
The transition carries weight for the sport, promising a new chapter marked by resilient, late-race surges, and ensuring that the memory of Kevin Harvick’s greatness continues to shape and inspire the Cup Series. For fans and analysts alike, Logano’s emergence as “The Closer” offers both continuity and excitement, as the tradition of delivering under pressure endures on NASCAR’s grandest stage.
