Joey Logano is intensifying his approach as the NASCAR playoffs head to Las Vegas, focusing on a relentless attitude designed to push the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse into championship contention. Employing his signature resolve, Logano’s NASCAR playoffs strategy centers on advancing at every cost, keeping his eyes solely on the ultimate prize and adjusting tactics as the high-pressure rounds unfold.
Logano’s Mindset: All or Nothing for the Championship
Throughout his playoff journey, Joey Logano has maintained a philosophy that prioritizes results over process, a sentiment that has repeatedly defined his racing career. Echoing his uncompromising mentality, Logano stated,
“Honestly, I don’t care how we move on. I don’t really care how we win the championship, I just want to win. I don’t care how we get there. I’ve always been that way. I’ve always said it’s about the big trophy at the end of the day. That’s all that matters and how we do it doesn’t matter, whether it’s no wins, five wins, I don’t care. If it’s close at the cut line or easy, it doesn’t matter. It’s all about winning the trophy. My message was basically, ‘Hey, we’ve made it this far, let’s not waste the opportunity.’ We’ve made it to the Round of 8. It’s a great accomplishment, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t get to the Championship 4. And, again, when you make it to the Championship 4, it doesn’t matter if you don’t win the championship. It doesn’t make a difference, so it’s all about getting there right now. That’s the first step. The next step, and then winning the big trophy.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
This focused determination has fueled Logano’s ascent through the playoff rounds, with his pragmatic approach resonating in the garage as both challenger and catalyst among other drivers like Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin.
Tactical Information and Risk Calculations on Track
As the pressure mounts, Logano employs a methodical, data-driven style to interpreting racing scenarios, processing both his own status and his competitors’ situations in real time.
“I want to know, obviously, my point situation because it matters, but I also want to know the other point situations because that matters too, not necessarily for manipulating the race, but understanding what risk I’m taking. Is this guy in a must-win situation and he’s gonna clobber me? Or, how hard is this car gonna be to pass in general. What are the motives out there, and there are plenty of times throughout the year where Coleman will tell me, ‘Hey, the top three cars on this restart are all must-wins.’ I’m like, ‘OK.’ I might be eighth at that moment or wherever, but just knowing that gives me like, ‘OK, this could be a pretty crazy restart. This might be a little different than what we’ve watched before the race and how we think it’s gonna go and I’ve got to be ready.’ I want to know those things. That helps me, not in a case of changing the outcome or anything like that, but how can I make the 22 car finish better. That’s my job, so how do I do that? How do I accomplish that, and a lot of times I need to know the full story to effectively do my job in the most efficient way on the racetrack and do things right.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
This strategy connects him to his team, notably spotter Coleman, as they communicate essential insights during tense restarts and closing laps. Such awareness provides Logano with a competitive edge, amplifying both his and Team Penske’s ability to respond quickly to evolving playoff dynamics.
Data Sharing and Fair Play in High-Stakes Moments
The high-tension environment of the NASCAR playoffs frequently prompts discussions around the sharing of points scenarios and race manipulation. Logano recognizes the complexity, explaining,
“It’s a slippery slope either way because where is the line? Is just telling somebody where you are in points and what’s going on around you, is that too far? Saying straight-up what to do is probably too far. We can kind of understand that, but just saying what the point situation is, I don’t think that’s too far, in my opinion. At that point, it’s up to the driver to make the best decisions for whatever they’re trying to accomplish, which is usually winning the race. I think just feeding someone data it still leaves it in the driver’s hands to do what they please with it. It’s just giving information. That’s all you’re doing.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
When asked about bringing these concerns to NASCAR leadership, Logano conceded,
“I haven’t talked to them about this in particular, no. I think this is something they need to handle. My opinion, I don’t think, matters too much in this one. Like I said, I think if you’re just saying what’s going on, it’s probably OK, I think. I do think there are some gray lines of, to your point, where is the black and white of this you can do and this you can’t do. I’m sure we could probably tighten some of that up a little bit and just help us understand that.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
This acknowledgement points to an evolving gray area in NASCAR officiating, where teams toe the line between acquiring information and direct manipulation, amidst an increasingly analytical era for crew chiefs and drivers alike.
Team Dynamics and Playoff Pressure at Penske
Despite climbing to the pivotal Round of 8, Logano sees consistency in Team Penske’s preparation.
“Yes and no. Some things don’t change much because Penske has a process. That’s how we do things is boom, boom, boom all the time, but you do feel a little bit more, I don’t know, there’s just more on the line. The playoffs are there. You start to feel a little bit more of everything. It’s just that the intensity ratchets up and you feel that. I don’t know that the process changes much, but the intensity is definitely ratcheted up.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
This intensity isn’t unique to Logano’s crew. Across the field, teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, with drivers including Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, share a similar heightened focus during the playoffs, especially as the Las Vegas round can make or break championship dreams.
Strategizing Against Tough Competition
Within the highly competitive Round of 8, nearly every driver brings a history of deep playoff runs. Logano, aware that no clear favorites exist, remarked,
“I wouldn’t say there’s any surprises in the Round of 8 here. I think they’re all capable of winning the championship this year – every one of them. There are none that are like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this guy made it this far. That’s crazy.’ I think you’ve got the best eight teams going for it. It’s gonna be a battle right to the end. I don’t see a clear favorite or clear like this person is gonna kill them all. It seems like it’s gonna be close all the way to the end.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
Teams like Front Row Motorsports and Wood Brothers Racing remain contenders, with each pit stop and restart potentially changing the championship landscape. The unpredictable nature of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway only fuels the urgency of every tactical call, underscored by recent competition notes and team briefings.
Debate Over Race Manipulation and Point Tactics
Recent discussions—especially relating to whether Denny Hamlin should pass Ross Chastain to impact playoff elimination—have spotlighted the delicate balance of self-advancement versus sportsmanship. On this, Logano observed,
“Everyone is gonna have a different opinion on that. I guess in that scenario the 11, Denny, would have to ask himself, ‘What’s gonna give me the best chance to win the championship,’ if that’s your number one goal. If that’s your main goal to do that, what gives me the best chances to win the whole thing. That’s pretty gray, but I don’t really know. It’s pretty tough. That’s why you want to know all the data, but that’s a tough decision and you don’t know what the future is gonna bring. Is one competitor tougher than the other? I don’t know. I don’t know if you want to race against either one of us. Ross has proven to do whatever it takes to get to the next round or to win. He’s done that multiple times. Do you want to race against him? I don’t know. Do you want to race against us? I don’t think so, either. You’re probably in a no win situation, so you might as well just pass him and go and get a better spot.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
When asked about the risk of getting caught up in an incident due to such decisions, Logano responded,
“Or there’s that. Should have waited a little sooner.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
Handling Playoff Tracks and ‘Wild Card’ Rounds
Addressing whether the placement of unpredictable races like Talladega in the playoff schedule impacts contenders, Logano detailed,
“There’s definitely a difference. There’s only four teams that are gonna make it here, and you put – I hate calling them wild cards because I just hate saying that – but it’s a race where a lot of things can happen. A wreck can take out a few cars more than normal, so it just becomes interesting that way. I don’t know if I’m a huge fan of that where it is in the playoffs, but the rules are the rules and we’re gonna play by them. That’s the whole thing with this whole playoff system. When we start in Daytona, those are the rules. We all know it. We all know the schedule. We all know how everything goes and it’s up to us to figure out how to do it the best. They’re not gonna change because we don’t like it. They are what they are, so let’s go figure out how to win with it.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
Such sentiments mirror the opinions of many competitors who recognize the equalizing effect these unpredictable events can have, both complicating and exciting the chase for the championship.
The Value of Securing a Win in Las Vegas
Winning at Las Vegas doesn’t just provide a spot in the Championship 4; it grants a crucial strategic advantage. As Logano elaborated, there are layers of benefits for both driver and crew, from increased time to prepare for Phoenix to a lower level of stress as focus narrows to one final race. This margin allows for logistical adjustments—such as readying the Phoenix car and transport—while helping teams and drivers recalibrate for the ultimate showdown.
Keys to Success: Beyond Just Speed
Logano emphasizes that while outright speed is vital, it is strategic execution that often separates winners from the rest.
“Obviously, if you’re fast, that gives you an advantage. A fast car always helps. Qualifying up front always helps. With that said, it doesn’t mean you can’t win any other way. We’ve proven that, that you can win in a lot of different ways in NASCAR. That’s why it’s a team sport. It’s not just about the car and the driver. It’s about the strategy and the pit stops and everything else that goes along with it. There’s a lot that goes into it, so it’s not always about the fastest car that wins the race.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
This framing aligns with the ethos of organizations like Penske and Front Row Motorsports, who stress preparation across pit stops and race strategy as much as qualifying.
Adapting to Changes in Power and Tire Dynamics
Looking ahead to the next season, changes loom regarding NASCAR horsepower rules and tire composition. Logano commented,
“I think it’s directionally correct. It’s obviously not a huge bump in power. It’s the direction they have to go. There’s a lot of limitations that kept them from going more. There’s a lot of parts to that equation. It’s not that simple to just take the tapered spacer off and open them up and let her eat. It sounds cool. It’s easy to say that here, but when you dig a little deeper downstream there are a lot of things that happen to handle that, so I think directionally it’s the right way. I think the biggest thing that I’ve seen here recently in the last six months is what Goodyear is doing. Goodyear is bringing a tire that falls off and we’re seeing that at a lot of different racetracks now. The horsepower will make the fall off a little bit faster. It will happen quicker. There will be more fall off with more horsepower, so it’s directionally kind of going that way, but what Goodyear is doing is the biggest part of the equation, in my opinion.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
With suppliers such as Goodyear continuing to refine tire performance for teams like Toyota and Ford, these adjustments could tip the balance as drivers look to develop race-winning setups for both Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Perspectives on Playoff Format and Pressure
The current single-race championship format at Phoenix stirs debate among drivers and fans alike. Logano, speaking as both a competitor and observer, stated,
“For us as competitors, we’re gonna see what the rules are and we’re gonna try to win with that. Me as a race fan, and it’s just as an opinion as a race fan, so take me out of the driver’s seat and not as a competitor but someone just watching, I love the one-race where it all comes down to one thing. I love the pressure that it puts on every member of the team. I love that they’ve got to come down pit road and they cannot screw up, and I love that every decision that is made with that race car before it leaves the shop has a direct effect on whether you win the championship or not. It’s the Super Bowl moment. You will leave the racetrack knowing who is the champion. I like it. I personally love that. Not everyone has the same opinion and that’s mine, but that’s mine just as a fan watching. As a competitor, it’s stressful as hell. It’s not a comfortable place to be in. No one would really ever know what that feels like unless you’re in the seat, but it’s hard. It’s supposed to be hard. As a competitor I’ve been on both ends of those things. I’ve been on the end of one pit stop keeping us from a win, one final restart from keeping us. I’ve been one run where our car was good and put a set of tires on and it vibrated and we lost the championship because of it. So be it. Those were the rules when we got them and we played by them and you’ve got to try to make the best of that. Personally, I love it. Even as a competitor I do think it’s cool too, but that’s just my opinion and everyone’s got one.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
The mounting stress of the format, particularly as it compresses months of effort into a single moment, has created both apprehension and excitement for drivers, crews, and the sport’s fan base.
Logano’s Legacy of Playoff Resilience
Playoff runs have reinforced the reputation of Joey Logano and his team for resilience and mental tenacity. When questioned about whether past dramatic playoff entries carry over year-to-year, Logano explained,
“It’s been a fairly similar year up to this point, yes, but what you did last year doesn’t matter. Your past success doesn’t guarantee future success in any way. It proves you know how to do it. It proves you can handle things, but every day is different.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
His enjoyment of the ‘marked man’ status underscores a team dynamic built on grit and sustained focus,
“I like it. I’d by lying if I said I didn’t like it, but it’s only that way because we’ve been that team. It’s just the way we’ve been able to approach the playoffs and we just have a mentally tough team all the way through. They’re a bunch of resilient, tough people that just keep grinding. That’s how we do it. I wouldn’t say we do it in a flashy way, we just keep grinding away and hopefully things work out. They have in the past because we’ve just stayed tough. I know that’s a simple way of looking at it, but sometimes that’s OK.”
— Joey Logano, Driver.
The Road Ahead: Las Vegas and Beyond
Logano’s sharpened focus heading into Las Vegas reveals a driver and a program strengthened by adversity and prepared to tackle every challenge the playoffs present. Having navigated a field of favorites and wild cards, Logano, together with Penske and his crew, recognizes the opportunity before them—one that could bring another championship to Team Penske should his NASCAR playoffs strategy pay off.
As up-and-coming events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway play out, the field remains tight, with contenders like Erik Jones, John Hunter Nemechek, and Todd Gilliland all aiming for their place at Phoenix. With every lap, pit stop, and split-second decision, the unfolding drama of the NASCAR playoffs continues, setting the stage for what promises to be a climactic end to the season as drivers vie to secure the trophy that defines their careers.
