Joey Logano’s pursuit of the Joey Logano Championship Four hopes came to an end at Martinsville Speedway, as the Team Penske driver missed the cut for NASCAR’s final showdown due to an underwhelming finish. After the race, Logano openly acknowledged his team’s shortcomings during a post-race interview, reflecting on the factors that kept him from advancing.
Disappointing Result at Martinsville Ends Logano’s Playoff Run
Logano lined up fourth on the grid after a strong qualifying effort for the 500-lap race at the tight Martinsville Speedway, bringing optimism for a successful day. He made quick progress in the early laps, moving up to finish Stage 1 in second place, collecting nine championship points and setting a fastest lap of 19.32 seconds at a speed of 98 mph. However, his fortunes changed in stage two when a pit stop and a choice of the wrong lane left him trapped in slower traffic and ‘dirty air,’ limiting his ability to recover positions.
After the race, Logano reflected on what went wrong, saying,
“We weren’t good enough to drive back through either way, but I thought I would have had a chance if maybe I could have made that better earlier in the race. I just got out of the car. I have no idea. There will be plenty, obviously, looking back at it and things we’ve got to do better.”
Logano’s race car, the #22 Ford Mustang, could not find the speed needed to challenge the frontrunners by the final stage. Logano finished eighth, which was not sufficient to advance to the Championship Four at Phoenix. Meanwhile, William Byron, representing Hendrick Motorsports, secured the race win and his own place in the title decider.
“Ultimately, we just have to be faster. That’s the biggest thing. Bummed. I don’t know if there’s another word for it. I’m just bummed that one of us didn’t make it. Everyone works hard enough to deserve to be there. We just couldn’t get the job done today, or really the last three races. That’s what it comes down to. The four there deserve to be there. That’s how I always look at it, and this year we didn’t deserve to be there,” he added.
Longing for a Victory at Dover: Logano Describes His Ambition
In a conversation with SpeedFreaks leading up to the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway, Logano candidly discussed his admiration for the unique Dover trophy and his longstanding ambition to capture it. Despite racing at the Delaware track 29 times over his career, Logano has never managed to take the top spot, although he has finished as high as third.
When discussing the appeal of the trophy, Logano said,
“As far as coolness of trophies, yeah, it’s up there pretty high. It’s pretty cool; you put the die-cast card, and it looks cool. I got four of the little ones from the Xfinity races, but I’d trade every one of those for a Cup win; Cup wins obviously mean a lot more.” (via Instagram)
Joey Logano’s record in the Cup Series makes him one of the most successful drivers of his era, with 37 wins, 173 top-five finishes, 299 top-tens, and 33 times on pole across 614 career starts. He is a three-time champion, with titles in 2018, 2022, and 2024, having led a total of 9,467 laps and maintaining an average starting position of 11.8. Among his rivals, drivers like Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and William Byron have also played significant roles in the season’s storylines.
What Lies Ahead for Logano and Team Penske
With his bid for the NASCAR Championship Four now over, Logano is turning his focus to the next chapter, both at Phoenix and future races such as Dover, where a victory remains one of his key goals. His transparency following the Martinsville event sheds light on the pressures and challenges that even experienced champions face during the playoffs. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Logano and Team Penske can find the speed they need, respond to the lessons from this year’s campaign, and reignite their championship ambitions in the future.
