22 – Joey Logano
Team: Team Penske
Crew Chief: Todd Gordon
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Best Finish: 8th (2013)
Chase History: 2nd Chase Appearance, Best finish of 8th in 2013
Regular Season Recap: As part of Team Penske’s overall resurgence in 2014, Joey Logano has enjoyed his best season yet in the Sprint Cup. Logano has as many wins so far this season – three – as he’d had within the first five full-time seasons of his career. They’ve come on diverse circuits as well, tasting wins at Texas (1.5 miles), Richmond (0.75) and Bristol (0.533). His qualifying has also been excellent as well; he has one pole and only six starts outside the top-10 in the year’s first 25 races. Consistently sixth through ninth in points, Logano’s recent run of form has now brought him to fourth, a season-high.
Chris’ Take: It took some time, but Logano has proven that the hype on him was correct. Winning on very different tracks this season is definitely a good sign, and with Team Penske’s overall speed, he has the potential to at least get through the Challenger and Contender rounds.
And like I am with his teammate Brad Keselowski, I’m impressed with the amount of confidence he now possesses. Of course, the matter of driving for a top-flight operation like Penske and having “Kes” the former Sprint Cup champion as a teammate helps, but it seems that as Logano’s grown up in this series, he’s gotten wiser as well.
Jerry’s Take: For the first time in his career, Joey Logano is definitely become a bonafide championship contender. Of all the drivers in the Chase, next to Dale Earnhardt Jr., Logano has arguably had the most improvement of the 16 Chase contestants.
We think Logano has a good chance to win at either his home track in New Hampshire or the following week at Dover, which would advance him to the second round. Unfortunately, we see him eliminated before Homestead, most likely after the second round. One consolation for Logano fans: he’s only 24. If he doesn’t win the Sprint Cup championship this season, there’s lots more seasons to come for him.
Tony’s Take: Logano overachieved in 2013 in his first season with Team Penske, and has improved to the next level in 2014. He has the experience of going through the pressure cooker of a Chase once, which is good to have in play heading into the new format this year.
With no obvious, glaring issues, Logano’s best chance at advancing through the Chase will come if he and the No. 22 team continue their qualifying prowess. He hasn’t done much at the Chase tracks throughout his career, but he’s peaking at the right time. Perhaps not an outright title favorite but in theory, has enough to make it through at least one knockout phase.
Joey Logano’s Career Statistics at Chase Tracks
Chicagoland (1.5 mile) – No wins, no Top-5s, 1 Top-10 in 5 starts
New Hampshire (1 mile) – One win, 2 Top-5s, 4 Top-10s in 12 starts
Dover (1 mile) – No wins, 2 Top-5s, 7 Top-10s in 11 starts
Kansas (1.5 mile) – No wins, 2 Top-5s, 2 Top-10s in 10 starts
Charlotte (1.5 mile) – No wins, 3 Top-5s, 6 Top-10s in 11 starts
Talladega (2.66 mile) – No wins, 2 Top-5s, 4 Top-10s in 11 starts
Martinsville (half-mile) – No wins, 2 Top-5s, 3 Top-10s in 11 starts
Texas (1.5-mile) – One win, 4 Top-5s, 4 Top-10s in 12 starts
Phoenix (1 mile) – No wins, 2 Top-5s, 5 Top-10s in 11 starts
Homestead-Miami (1.5 mile) – No wins, no Top-5s, 1 Top-10s in 5 starts
