Joey Logano, in his determined Joey Logano Cup championship pursuit, enters today’s elimination race at the Charlotte Roval as he fights to advance in NASCAR’s Cup playoffs. With three championships under his belt, Logano continues to carry the weight of past experiences while steadying himself with a focus on the present, acknowledging the personal and professional stakes each season brings.
Despite his impressive achievements—one of only a handful of drivers in NASCAR history with as many titles—Logano still feels the sting of coming up short when his championship hopes faltered in 2014. Reflecting on his initial title race appearance, he shared,
That might have been my only chance to win a championship. “That’s how I felt, and I don’t think I’d feel any different today,
Logano told NBC Sports. His perspective remained unchanged through subsequent years, stating,
If we lost last year, I might say that might have been my last chance to win a championship. Maybe so.
Playoff Pressure and Uncertainties Ahead
Logano has qualified for the championship race six times since NASCAR introduced its playoff format in 2014, which culminates in a high-stakes, one-race duel for the title. As the field narrows ahead of the Round of 8, Logano holds a slender lead over Ross Chastain for the final transfer position while Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Cindric linger just behind in points.
While Logano’s track record confirms that a significant portion of his Cup victories have come during playoff races, he acknowledges that future opportunities are never guaranteed. He reflected with a sense of uncertainty,
I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow,
Logano admitted. He elaborated,
You don’t know how your cars are going to be. You don’t know how you’re going to be. You might get hurt. There might be a life-altering thing that makes you have to change what you’re doing. Every day could be your last.
At 35 years old and in his 17th Cup series campaign, Logano has dedicated nearly half his life to NASCAR’s elite level. With each season, the pressure mounts not just to achieve, but to find stability amid the unpredictable nature of motorsports. Yet, as more chances to compete for titles seem likely, Logano remains focused on what he can control in the present rather than being consumed by future possibilities.
Falling Short and Shifting Perspective
Last year, leaving Charlotte Motor Speedway stung for Logano, as he missed out on a transfer spot and assumed his shot at another championship was over. He shared how he coped in the aftermath,
I was kind of starting to move on,
Logano said about that time. He continued,
“I also knew that I was still in the owner’s championship at that point, so I had a lot to race for. I kind of accepted the fact that we didn’t do enough. We had a good day that day … but it wasn’t enough.”
He further reflected on the heartbreak and adaptation that comes with such disappointments,
“I guess there’s two ways of looking at it, because on one hand it’s everything you work for and everything you want and when the dream dies it’s sad. It sucks.”
Still, Logano strives to maintain perspective, recognizing the difficulty in doing so during the heated playoff period. He explained,
But you have keep some perspective on life, which is hard to do when you’re in the middle of (the playoffs). That’s hard to do, but you kind of have to. You’ve got to have some other things going on. Sometimes it helps offset some losses in other ways, which you can also win in some other areas. It kind of keeps you flowing.
Family Life Anchors Logano’s Journey
Beyond racing, Logano credits his wife Brittany and their three children—Hudson, age 7; Jameson, 5; and three-year-old Emilia—for anchoring his life and perspective. While he is dedicated to pursuing championships, family remains his top priority. He commented,
That’s even more important because you only have a little bit of that before it’s gone, before they grow up,
emphasizing his commitment to God, family, then work, and adding,
“That’s always like God, family and work. It’s got to be in that order. That’s how I see it.”
Logano praised his wife’s support during the demanding playoff schedule,
My wife is awesome. My wife understands that these 10 weeks are a little harder than the rest of the year and she does a good job of relieving any kind of stress that would be at home to where when I’m at home, I can enjoy time with the kids.
As for their children, Logano provided candid insights into their personalities. Describing them, he noted,
They couldn’t be more different from each other,
and reflected on Hudson’s competitiveness, Jameson’s curiosity for nature, and Emilia’s sweet yet sassy demeanor. Everyday moments at home keep him grounded, as he explained,
I don’t think it’s any different than any other home. … They want to play. We try to keep them outside as much as we can. Jameson is out looking for turtles and snakes and frogs all day long. That’s what he wants to do. I’m not touching then, but that’s fine, I’ll go with you.
A Drive to Deliver for Team and Owner
Looking ahead to today’s elimination race, Logano is driven not just by personal ambition but by a deep sense of loyalty to team owner Roger Penske. After Joe Gibbs Racing released Logano in 2013 to make room for Matt Kenseth, Penske offered him a critical opportunity with Team Penske and has played a pivotal role in Logano’s career resurgence.
Logano is open about his gratitude for Penske’s support and desire to repay him with more championships, stating simply,
I want to (win a title) for him because he’s done a lot for me,
He recognizes that Penske’s investment in him goes well beyond the race track:
“There was nobody else looking to pick me up (for the 2013 season). He’s helped me out in a lot of different ways. He cares in ways that you wouldn’t think that somebody of that caliber, that level, just being that busy and stuff going on, that would even think about the little things that are going on in somebody’s life.”
He continued,
“That’s why I want to win for him. That’s why I want to continue the legacy of what has been built here. … Someone helps you out, what do you want to do?”
Drawing a parallel to family support, Logano reflected,
If your parents have done a lot for you, what do you want your parents to be? Proud of you. You want them to be proud of what you become and what you’re doing. I just want him to be proud of me.
The Road Forward: Championship Ambitions and Life’s Balance
With the championship race field tightening, Joey Logano’s pursuit of yet another Cup title is marked by the relentless unpredictability of NASCAR competition, as well as by his dedication to those who have supported him along the way. In both triumph and disappointment, he draws strength from family life and mentorship, keeping perspective no matter what unfolds on the track at Concord’s Charlotte Roval or beyond.
As the playoffs intensify, all eyes in NASCAR—including rivals like Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Austin Cindric—are on Logano as he continues to balance the intensity of his professional ambitions with the grounding effect of life at home. His journey stands as a testament to how grounded priorities can help weather the pressures of elite sports, ensuring that the pursuit of victory never comes at the expense of what matters most.
