Joey Logano captures 3rd Championship
Joey Logano captured his third NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, adding to his 2018 and 2022 titles. The 34-year-old driver became the 10th in NASCAR history to secure three or more championships. In a close battle, Logano reclaimed the lead midway through the final stage and held off Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, who had hoped to clinch back-to-back titles. This victory marked the 36th win of Logano’s Cup career.
Team Penske celebrated its third consecutive championship, following Logano’s 2022 win and Blaney’s title last year. “I love the playoffs. I love it,” Logano shared after his victory. “What a Team Penske battle there at the end. I had a good restart and was able to get in front of (Blaney). He had a lot of long-run speed, and it was all I had there to hold him off. We have three of them, and that’s really special. What a team effort to fight through today. … I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team. We’re a mentally tough team that can make things happen when it matters.”
Blaney pushed hard to catch his teammate but ran out of laps, finishing as the runner-up in the season finale for the second consecutive year. “Couldn’t quite get there,” Blaney told NBC. “Tried really hard to do so but the restart didn’t really work out. … If we’re going to race somebody, I’m happy it was (Logano) for the championship.”
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports finished third, followed by 2021 champion Kyle Larson and JGR’s Christopher Bell in fifth. Bell, who had been knocked out of the Final Four at Martinsville the week prior due to the safety penalty he incurred after his “wall ride.” Whether he intended it to be a “move” or not, data determined that he had remained on the throttle instead of trying to get off the wall. Bell’s comments in the media center at Phoenix, coupled with his aggressive drive throughout Stage 1 and 2, indicated he was still stinging from NASCAR’s decision to keep him from fighting for a championship.
Tyler Reddick of 23X1 made his very first appearance in the Final Four and finished the race in sixth. “We just didn’t have enough, but I’m really, really proud of our team.”
Logano’s journey to the championship nearly ended at the Charlotte Roval. But he secured the final spot in the Round of 8 after Alex Bowman’s disqualification. Logano then won the opening race of the third round at Las Vegas, clinching his place in the 2024 championship finale.
