AVONDALE, Ariz. — Eliminated from the playoffs on the finish of the second spherical, Joey Logano obtained a second probability when one other competitor was disqualified.
He pounced on the chance.
Logano was added to the spherical of eight following Alex Bowman’s disqualification and instantly went to Las Vegas Motor Speedway to win the third-round opener. It made Logano the primary driver locked into Sunday’s winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway with three weeks to arrange his Ford for the title run.
He capitalized along with his third NACAR Cup Series championship, utilizing a near-flawless drive to carry off teammate Ryan Blaney and provides Team Penske its third main motorsports title in lower than a month and third consecutive NASCAR title.
Logano really referred to as his shot after qualifying second Saturday when he confidently acknowledged it was his Cup Series title to lose.
“Yeah, I do. I feel like our car is strong. We got them down now,” Logano boasted. “We just have to put our foot on their throats. We feel pretty strong about our team, and these type of pressure situations we feel really solid about as far as our team in these moments.”
It could not have been how boss Roger Penske would have phrased it, however it confirmed the staff proprietor how relentless his staff chief will be.
“I might have used different words, but that’s OK,” Penske mentioned, “when you win, you can say whatever you want, I guess.”
Logano held off Blaney over the ultimate 20 laps to beat him for the Cup collection title by 0.330 seconds. Blaney was making an attempt to develop into the primary back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson received 5 straight from 2006 to 2010.
Instead, Logano grew to become the tenth driver in NASCAR historical past to win three or extra championships. Kyle Busch is the one different energetic driver with a number of titles.
“I love the playoffs, I love it man,” Logano mentioned. “What a team, what a Penske battle there at the end. Three of them? That’s truly special.”
It was the primary time in Team Penske historical past the group completed 1-2 within the championship. And, it got here after Penske’s sports activities automobile staff in IMSA received the title final month and his World Endurance Championship staff received the title final weekend in Bahrain.
Roger Penske mentioned he apprehensive within the closing laps his two drivers would crash into one another, ending the title hopes for each. He additionally praised longtime sponsor Shell-Pennzoil, which was on Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden’s automobile for his victory in May for Penske.
Penske additionally deferred taking an excessive amount of of the credit score for the staff success.
“It’s all about the people,” Penske mentioned. “My name might be on the door, but it’s all about the people who make the difference and we sure have them on this team.”
Blaney was exhausted after the race, and regardless of his disappointment was thrilled for the Penske group.
“At least a Penske car won it,” Blaney mentioned. “They put together a great playoffs, and we’re happy. If we’re going to race somebody, I’m happy it was him for the championship, and happy to be 1-2 for Roger, three in a row for Roger, super amazing, and Ford.”
Penske and Ford have received three consecutive Cup Series championships. Logano received in 2022 and Blaney received final yr.
“One-two for Team Penske, three championships in a row, can’t be more proud of this team,” Logano mentioned. “I don’t know if I’m the best driver but I’ve got the best team. And together, we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most.”
The finale was winner-take-all to the best finisher between Logano, Blaney, William Byron in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports and Tyler Reddick of the 23XI Racing staff owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.
Byron completed third within the race and Reddick was sixth. It was Byron’s second consecutive look within the finale, first for Reddick.
“Makes you hungrier, but also just more experience in what it takes,” mentioned Byron, the Daytona 500 winner. “I feel like this style of track has been tough on us, and we made a lot of strides this year, but still more to go. If we can just kind of inch up on this style of track, I know we’re so good at all the other ones, and we can put it all together.”
Reddick, who had been subdued all week in comparison with his fellow title contenders, did not lead a lap and had Jordan pacing behind the pit wall a lot of the race.
“Michael was just proud of the effort of our team all year long,” Reddick mentioned. “Put up a good fight. We didn’t make any mistakes that took ourselves out of it. We fought as hard as we could.”
The 4 title contenders completed within the high six, with Reddick behind Kyle Larson of Hendrick and Christopher Bell, who led a race-high 143 laps after he was disqualified from the finale final week at Martinsville for a security violation. Byron took his spot as an alternative, and Bell insisted he had been cheated out of the prospect to race for the title.
Logano, a 34-year-old from Connecticut, led 107 laps within the dominating win that Blaney made nearer than anticipated within the ultimate laps.
“Our team is better under pressure,” Logano mentioned. “The race started in Vegas for us. The amount of work and effort that went into building this race car right here, the amount of time, I don’t think anyone works harder than us. We were up at 6 in the morning this morning going over stuff. The guys just want it bad and I’m glad we delivered.”
