Joey Logano‘s NASCAR title bid faced a setback at Martinsville, as he was unable to secure the win necessary to keep his championship hopes alive for 2024. The Team Penske driver, who once clinched a Cup Series title after a dramatic Martinsville victory in 2018, saw his efforts fall short during Sunday’s pivotal race.
Logano Fails to Repeat Past Success at Martinsville
In 2018, a victory at Martinsville propelled Joey Logano to his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. This year, history did not repeat itself. Despite the high stakes — a win in the Xfinity 500 would have pushed Logano into the Championship 4, giving him a chance to defend his 2024 title — the three-time champion couldn’t find the needed speed. His teammate, Ryan Blaney, was in a similar position but chased the victory with more success.
Logano’s performance started strong, taking second place in Stage 1 behind William Byron, the driver who ultimately won the race. Over the next segments, however, Logano slipped, falling to 13th in Stage 2 before ultimately taking the checkered flag in eighth place. The finish was far from sufficient to advance, leaving Logano on the outside looking in as the championship field was set.
Late-Race Strategy Offers No Miracles for Logano
A late caution in the race presented a chance for teams to shake up the final order with a bold pit strategy. Yet, Logano and crew chief Paul Wolfe made the calculated choice to avoid a risky call like taking only two tires or staying out. Logano explained his thinking after the race, emphasizing the narrow set of options available in that moment.
“We’re the team to do things, but that wouldn’t make sense,”
Logano said to reporters after the finish.
“You gotta have the lead to put two tires on. Just wasn’t good enough.”
— Joey Logano, Driver
Looking Forward After Heartbreak at Martinsville
This exit from title contention means Logano must wait at least another year for a chance at a fourth Cup Series championship, which would allow him to tie Jeff Gordon in career titles. The result also places further emphasis on the capricious nature of NASCAR playoffs, where a single race can dismantle the prospects of even the sport’s most accomplished drivers. Mark Martin, another NASCAR Hall of Famer from Logano’s region, knows such heartbreaks all too well, reflecting the challenges faced by top competitors in Martinsville’s unique setting.
The missed opportunity at Martinsville is a reminder that even proven champions like Logano, with support from Team Penske and guidance from crew chief Paul Wolfe, face intense pressures and slim margins in pursuit of NASCAR glory. With the 2024 campaign now out of reach, attention will turn to how Logano and his team regroup—aiming for redemption and another shot at the Cup in the seasons ahead.
Joey Logano on not having a lot of options by the end pic.twitter.com/SOHgrNf5eE
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 26, 2025
