Joey Logano playoff confidence remains strong despite his recent results, with only one top-10 finish in his last eight NASCAR Cup Series races. The reigning champion and his crew chief Paul Wolfe see positive signs in their efforts, believing that their teamwork and improvements could spark another championship run as the playoffs approach.
Logano secured a spot in the postseason after his win at Texas in early May, but has struggled to break into the top positions since a fourth-place finish at Nashville in June. Heading into this Sunday’s race at Iowa Speedway, both Logano and Team Penske look to turn their momentum around and set the tone for the crucial playoff stretch.
Strategies Behind the Scenes: Wolfe Plotting a Path Back to Victory Lane
With the playoffs looming, Wolfe told NBC Sports about his outlook after analyzing the changing track schedule and playoff format. Wolfe highlighted the methodical approach Team Penske is taking, targeting strengths and using strategic insight to maximize their performance across the rounds. Their evaluation of the current landscape gives the team, and especially Logano, renewed optimism for a return to the title showdown at Phoenix.
“When I sat down with Joey a couple of weeks ago and just kind of laid out the playoff rounds and what tracks are where, obviously it’s a little different again this year, I told him I feel pretty good, there’s a pretty clear path,”
—Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
For Logano, postseason excellence is nothing new. Last year, after a single regular-season victory, Logano surged in the playoffs, notching three wins to secure his third Cup Series title. Of his 37 career Cup wins, 15—a remarkable 40.5%—have come during playoff races, showing his ability to elevate under pressure.
Recent Struggles Show Progress Beneath the Surface
Despite finishes of 14th at Dover and a tough 32nd at Indianapolis, Logano highlighted improvements that hint at a stronger run ahead. Discussing the team’s recent performances on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Logano noted that even at traditionally challenging tracks, the group is delivering better speed and positioning. While the results haven’t told the full story, they believe their underlying speed and strategy are trending upward.
“Dover has notoriously been our worst racetrack, and we were pretty good there,”
—Joey Logano, Driver
He added context about the Indianapolis race, which ended in disappointment after a late tire issue and subsequent crash in overtime, but still provided reasons for optimism.
“In Indy, we had better speed than we had last year and we were positioned to win that race if we can just keep air in the tire.”
—Joey Logano, Driver
Wolfe’s race strategy at Indianapolis had placed Logano at the front after the final pit stop, but a right rear tire failure 25 laps from the checkered flag spoiled their effort. To make matters worse, a crash on the first of two overtime restarts ended Logano’s hopes that day, but both he and Wolfe see the bigger picture progressing positively.
Momentum and Belief Growing Inside Team Penske
Within Team Penske, there’s a belief that strength is building as the critical playoff rounds approach. According to Logano, performances across the team—including strong runs by teammate Austin Cindric in Indianapolis before he too suffered a flat tire—demonstrate that they are getting closer to competing for wins at the right time.
“There is some momentum behind the 22 right now, behind Team Penske, that there’s some good things going,”
—Joey Logano, Driver
“I mean, if I look at Indy alone, (teammate Austin Cindric) was probably the best car, probably the car that could have won the race. Had a flat tire, too. Then we were next in line. I feel like that’s a good thing. We’re not that far off.”
—Joey Logano, Driver
Testing, Preparation, and Fine-Tuning for a Playoff Push
A key component of Wolfe’s strategy has focused on advance testing at tracks pivotal to the playoff path. A recent Goodyear tire test at New Hampshire Motor Speedway—set to host the second round’s opening playoff race—left Wolfe and Logano feeling optimistic about their prospects. The two-day test not only built familiarity but also instilled confidence in their setups for both New Hampshire and other similarly configured tracks like Phoenix, where the championship will be decided.
“I feel confident in where we’re at,”
—Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
“We had a great two days up in New Hampshire, which was encouraging. I think the driver probably has some pretty good confidence after the test as well.”
—Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
The decision to test at New Hampshire followed careful discussions within the Ford teams, dividing up offseason testing assignments to yield the maximum benefit for the group as a whole. Wolfe explained that rather than tackling weaknesses, sometimes building on a strength is the best route to playoffs success.
“As we looked at the testing schedule in the offseason, all the Ford teams divvy them up and then we divvy them up amongst our company,”
—Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
Wolfe took a deliberate approach in prioritizing New Hampshire, favoring enhanced preparation at a strong track over efforts to shore up intermediate speedway performance. He reasoned that with Phoenix, another short track, being the site of the championship race, honing their package there would serve them well in the final rounds.
“That was kind of the approach I took, was, hey, we know (New Hampshire) is a really good track for us, it is a short track, obviously, Phoenix, the final race, is a short track, let’s take that one and make that one even a step better than what we’ve been and that was our approach.”
—Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
Logano initially questioned whether testing at Charlotte, typically a tougher track for the #22, might yield more gain, but Wolfe trusted in the process by maximizing their chances at familiar short tracks. Other teammates, such as Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric, picked up data at Charlotte and Iowa, ensuring the broader Penske stable is always learning collectively.
“Joey, at first, when we discussed it, (he was saying) we’re not very good on intermediates, should we take the Charlotte test?”
—Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
Wolfe emphasized their collaborative approach within the Penske organization, noting that success has come by developing setups throughout the season that work not just for one event but carry over to critical championship rounds.
“When we go to Phoenix for these championship races, us and (Blaney) are running the same setup because it works and we’ve developed it throughout the year and testing and that’s kind of what we did (at New Hampshire) and we feel good about it.”
—Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
What’s Next: Eyes on Iowa and the Road to Another Championship
As Logano and Team Penske head into Iowa Speedway this Sunday, the focus will be on translating their growing playoff confidence into immediate on-track success. Their preparation, tactical adjustments, and resilience across recent setbacks position them as a contender to watch. With history on his side and a collaborative team atmosphere, Logano’s bid for another Cup Series championship is very much alive as the intensity of the NASCAR season ramps up.
