Joey Logano is gearing up for a pivotal showdown at Gateway, where his history of strong performances will be put to the test as he battles to keep his NASCAR playoff hopes alive. The upcoming race marks a crucial point in the Joey Logano Gateway NASCAR playoff push, with the No. 22 Team Penske driver facing elimination unless he can deliver a big result against tough odds.
Team Penske’s Success Sets the Stage for Logano’s Challenge
Last year at Gateway, Team Penske demonstrated remarkable dominance on the hot Midwest oval, turning the track into a showcase for their teamwork and competitive edge. Austin Cindric broke an 85-race winless drought by snatching the checkered flag, capitalizing when Ryan Blaney ran out of fuel just before the finish line. That victory not only pushed Cindric into a playoff spot but showed the collective strength of Penske’s lineup, with Joey Logano playing a key supporting role during the event. These efforts cemented the team’s reputation for blending race craft and horsepower at Gateway.
As the NASCAR playoffs heat up and the Round of 12 looms, Team Penske heads back to Gateway—officially known as World Wide Technology Raceway—for the Enjoy Illinois 300 on September 7 at 3:00 PM ET. Logano approaches the event with a sense of opportunity, confident in Penske’s competitive pedigree on the unique circuit. Speaking about what makes the race stand out, Logano remarked,
Yeah, it’s been a great racetrack for Team Penske. But also, I think for the sport, on the cool racetrack, they did a good job at bringing the fans there, making it a whole weekend experience for everyone, which has been great. And the track puts on good racing. You know, it’s wide one and two, you can… especially, I mean, it’s from a lane off the wall to the very bottom, and even three and four is pretty wide as well. This one puts on a good racing car.
—Joey Logano, Driver
Team Penske’s dominance was on full display early in last year’s race, as Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, and Logano each held the top three spots in a single stage, affirming their tactical and technical superiority. Logano’s fifth-place result snapped a tough stretch outside the top 10 under the Penske banner, reinforcing his adaptability and consistent performance at Gateway. The year before, Logano started sixth and finished third, adding another display of reliability in crucial moments.
Historic Performances Boost Logano’s Confidence at Gateway
In the inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300 in 2022, Joey Logano authored a signature moment with a dramatic overtime battle, overtaking Kyle Busch in a last-lap crossover move to win by just 0.655 seconds. This victory was Logano’s 29th career Cup Series triumph. The final results highlighted Logano’s outdueling of drivers like Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch, with support from Penske teammate Blaney and Aric Almirola, who also finished near the front. Such success positions Logano as a clear contender whenever the series returns to Gateway.
Heading into this year’s event, the playoff picture is precarious for Logano. Following Darlington, Ryan Blaney occupies seventh in points, enjoying a 22-point cushion above the elimination threshold. Austin Cindric holds ninth place, a dozen points to the good. By contrast, Logano sits 13th, just three points below the cut line, making each lap at Gateway critical for his postseason ambitions. Denny Hamlin, an experienced NASCAR competitor, has noted Penske’s prowess at Gateway, consistently picking them out as the threat at this venue.
The Stakes: Gateway as a Decisive Turning Point
As Joey Logano heads into Gateway, he is painfully aware of the make-or-break nature of his current playoff run. He entered Darlington with a slim but promising advantage over the elimination line, only to suffer a setback with a 20th-place finish. Now with two races standing between him and the next round, the math is stark—he must excel immediately, or risk seeing his championship quest ended early.
Gateway offers a silver lining for Logano, who has maintained a 3.0 average finish at the track, underscoring his ability to deliver when it matters most. The upcoming Bristol race, in contrast, presents a much stiffer challenge: Logano holds a discouraging 27.0 average finish there across five attempts. With this reality, he knows the margin for error is razor thin as he seeks to regain lost ground in the playoff grid.
Reflecting on his recent frustrations at Darlington, Logano was direct about his approach to the challenges ahead.
You just have to write that one off as quick as possible, move on, figure out what you have to do at Gateway and keep going because at some point in the playoffs your back will be up against the wall and it will be do-or-die at some point. 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
The Road Ahead: Pressure, History, and Redemption
Joey Logano’s journey to Gateway is marked by the highs and lows typical of a seasoned championship contender. He has experienced both the triumph of underdog victory and the sting of defeat under playoff pressure. The knowledge of how quickly circumstances can turn—where reputation, skill, and mental toughness are all tested—shapes his preparation for this vital race.
The stakes are high not just for Logano, but for Team Penske as a whole, with Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney also seeking to build on their strong positions heading deeper into the postseason. As the field enters Gateway, all eyes will be on whether the Penske trio can once again outmaneuver top contenders like Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch, repeating past team heroics.
With the Round of 12 on the horizon, Logano’s push at Gateway represents the culmination of talent, strategy, and grit. The outcome will ripple across the landscape of the NASCAR Cup Series, influencing the dynamic for both drivers and teams as the chase for the championship intensifies. Should Logano pull off another memorable run, his story at Gateway could define this year’s playoff narrative and his own legacy as one of NASCAR’s most formidable competitors.
