Joey Logano capped an up-and-down year with his third Cup championship, becoming one of only 10 drivers in series history to have as many series titles.
Logano won only one race in the regular season and was not viewed as a major contender for the title entering the playoffs. He won three of the 10 playoff races — more than any other driver this season — to give Team Penske its third consecutive Cup crown.
Logano’s title has led to critics calling for NASCAR to make alterations to its playoff format. Whether that happens, there’s no denying that Logano is the champion for 2024.
CREW CHIEF: Paul Wolfe
TEAM: Team Penske
POINTS: 1st
WINS: 4 (Nashville, Atlanta II, Las Vegas II, Phoenix II)
LAPS LED: 414
TOP 5s: 7
TOP 10s: 13
STARTS FROM POLE: 3 (Daytona 500, Las Vegas I, Sonoma)
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Won his third Cup championship and became only the fifth driver to have at least three series titles before turning 35. The others on that list are Richard Petty, David Pearson, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Logano won four races and the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. He won three playoff races, more than any other driver this season. Logano won at Las Vegas, the opening race in the Round of 8, giving his team two extra weeks to prepare for the title race at Phoenix.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The regular season. Had it not been for his ability to save fuel through five overtimes and win at Nashville, Logano would not have made the playoffs. Logano failed to finish in the top 10 in 11 of the first 14 races of the season. Logano never had more than two consecutive top 10s this season. Logano was eliminated form the playoffs after the Round of 12 until Alex Bowman’s car failed post-race inspection at the Charlotte Roval. That put Logano back in the playoffs and into the Round of 8.
JOEY LOGANO SAID: “In the beginning of the year it felt like we couldn’t do anything right. It seemed like everything would go wrong. We’re in position and, boom, we wreck or do something. It’s like gosh, we just can’t catch a break. At the end of the year, it’s like nothing I did could be wrong.”
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2025: Joey Logano has made the Championship 4 six times and won three titles. But all of those came in even-numbered years. So can he return to the Championship 4 next year in an odd-numbered year?
