Joey Logano’s Gateway championship hopes hang in the balance after a difficult result at Darlington, where a 20th place finish dropped him to 13th in the NASCAR standings, below the playoff cutline. With only two races left in this round and an average Gateway finish of 3.0 compared to a much weaker Bristol record, Logano must capitalize now to keep his shot at the title alive.
The pressure is mounting after Darlington, where missing the mark left Logano on the outside looking in for the postseason. The next stretch is crucial, with Gateway seen as his prime opportunity, as Bristol remains a far riskier venue given his recent struggles there. As the cutline looms, Logano’s experience and previous strong showings at Gateway become central to his pursuit of advancement.
Responding to Darlington Disappointment
Logano has openly discussed the frustration from Darlington, insisting that a driver needs to quickly overcome such setbacks in order to refocus on the challenge ahead. The playoffs are relentless, and Lagano believes every driver must keep pressing forward, regardless of past disappointments or current standings.
As he explained, a competitor needs to move past tough races as quickly as possible, zero in on the upcoming event, and continue fighting. Pressure points in the playoff stretch are inevitable, whether they come early or late, and every driver eventually faces a critical moment where it is do-or-die for their championship prospects.
“100 percent in the playoffs in these 10 weeks you will have that at least one time. If you make it to the Championship 4, your back is up against the wall. You must win.”
—Joey Logano, Driver
Having weathered both successes and setbacks under the championship spotlight, Logano draws on his past experiences to prepare for what could be a defining race at Gateway this weekend.
The Challenge of Bristol’s Elimination Race
Bristol shapes up to be a far less predictable race for Logano, who has two wins and six top-fives across 30 starts, but faces new difficulties with the current Next Gen car. The short track that once suited his style has become a puzzle, complicated further by NASCAR’s technical and regulatory shifts in recent years.
Logano has noted that the car’s handling on Bristol’s concrete surface is not his strength, and that changes from Goodyear and other adjustments affecting tire wear add a further layer of uncertainty heading into the event. The constantly evolving setup requirements make Bristol a true test of adaptability this season.
“I don’t want to call it an unknown, but there’s a lot of things that we’re gonna have to figure out when we get there, and you guys know how the rules are today, you don’t really have the opportunity to change much, so we’re trying to anticipate some of the things coming our way.”
—Joey Logano, Driver
He and Team Penske, working with the No. 22 Ford, recognize that the window to mount a comeback is narrow. Bristol’s place as an elimination race magnifies the pressure, and the possibility of his even-year streak of Championship 4 appearances ending is now a real threat.
What’s at Stake in the Coming Races
The drama ahead at Gateway and Bristol stems from Logano’s need to overcome an unfavorable cutline position while navigating venues with vastly different histories for him. Gateway presents his most promising chance, given his average finish, but even a strong result offers no guarantees with Bristol’s unpredictability on tap next.
NASCAR’s playoff grind demands that drivers like Logano adapt quickly to adversity, keep focused through changing rules and setups, and deliver under the most intense pressure. The next chapter of his season will be decided in these high-stakes weeks. How he performs will determine if Joey Logano’s championship pursuit remains on track—or ends earlier than anticipated.
