LOGANO BACK IN THE TITLE HUNT AFTER SHOCK NASCAR DECISION
Joey Logano thought his 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoff hopes had slipped through his fingers after a tough race at the Charlotte Roval. Missing the Round of 8 by just four points, Logano was already preparing to move on when he received unexpected news that put him right back into the title fight. The disqualification of Alex Bowman, whose car was found to be too light during post-race inspection, gave Logano a lifeline, boosting him back into the playoffs.
Reflecting on his rollercoaster of emotions, Logano admitted it was tough to accept the initial outcome. “It takes a little bit to get your thoughts collected,” Logano said, recalling the hours immediately after the race. He and his wife were already shifting focus to life beyond racing when rumors of a potential inspection issue with Bowman’s car began to surface. “My phone started to ring shortly after,” he revealed, as the unexpected news began to unfold.
BOWMAN’S DQ GIVES LOGANO A PLAYOFF BOOST
Bowman’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet failed post-race inspection after being found underweight. NASCAR gave the team a chance to correct the issue—by fueling the car, purging the water system, and re-weighing it—but the weight remained insufficient. As a result, Bowman was disqualified, and Logano’s playoff campaign was back on track.
Logano was cautiously optimistic at first, as he knew Bowman’s team could potentially appeal the decision. However, once it was confirmed there would be no appeal, Logano could finally look forward. “Obviously, the news came out that they’re not appealing, so we move on into the Round of 8 and off we go,” he said.
FOCUSED ON VEGAS: LOGANO’S PLAYOFF COMEBACK BEGINS
Despite his playoff revival, Logano finds himself in a challenging position. He enters the Round of 8 sitting last on the playoff grid, 11 points out from advancing. However, the two-time Cup Series champion remains undeterred, particularly given his strong history at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where the next race takes place. Logano is a three-time winner at Las Vegas, and his last win there helped propel him into the Championship 4 in 2022.
Furthermore, Logano has a pattern of winning the first race of the Round of 8 in the last three seasons he reached the championship (2022, 2020, and 2018). His confidence is bolstered by the steady improvement of his team’s performance throughout the season. “We’ve been steadily getting better and improving,” Logano noted. “The stats may not look like it, but internally, we feel very confident as a race team that we can make a run at this thing.”
A SHOT AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP 4
With just three races remaining to secure a spot in the Championship 4, Logano is focused on maximizing every opportunity. He knows that a strong performance at Las Vegas could set the tone for the rest of the playoffs. “We can point our way in – we’re only 11 out,” Logano said. “One race at a time. Right now, the focus is Vegas, and we’ll try to maximize the day there.”
As the defending Cup Series champion and a proven winner at key playoff tracks, Logano is determined to turn his unexpected second chance into another championship run. “We’ve seen it in the past that you get in there, and anything can happen at Phoenix,” he said, keeping his sights set on the ultimate goal.
With a fresh lease on his playoff life, Joey Logano is ready to capitalize on this opportunity, and if history is any indication, the No. 22 team will be a force to be reckoned with in the final stretch of the season.
