The Charlotte ROVAL race had almost eliminated Joey Logano from championship contention. However, Alex Bowman’s failing post-race weight inspection reinstated Logano to the top 8. Many called Logano’s even-year magic to be behind this. If you don’t know already, Logano has consistently made it to the championship 4 in even-year seasons ever since the playoff format was introduced in 2014. Well, luck or no luck, no one can deny that Logano is one of the most successful drivers currently on the grid.

This year in Phoenix it would be the Penske driver’s 6th championship appearance. No other driver, since the elimination format came in, has achieved this feat. Logano is also the only multiple-time Cup Champion in the season still in contention for the title. Recently Logano dwelled upon how that gives him an edge.

Joey Logano, on his advantage above other Cup Champions in the playoffs

Joey Logano, in his decade-and-a-half Cup Career, has won 35 times. This makes Logano 25th on the all-time winners list in NASCAR. And 4th if we only consider active drivers. Kyle Bush leads the list with 63 wins, followed by Denny Hamlin’s 54 and finally, Brad Keselowski is only one win above Logano with 36 Cup wins. However, Logano (2018, 2022) and Busch (2015, 2019) are the only two active drivers to have bagged multiple championships. Other top championship contenders like Kyle Larson (2021), Ryan Blaney (2023), and Chase Elliott (2020), have only won once. Naturally, Logano has more experience dealing with the nuances of the championship.

If Logano bags another one this year, he would become the only driver to have won multiple championships in the next-gen era. And the #22 feels positive about it. In the pre-race interview ahead of Homestead, he was asked if he feels he has an advantage over others being a Cup Champion. To this, he said, “There’s no doubt after you’ve done something once, you’re gonna be better the second time, right?… I think for some drivers and teams, they love that pressure, and I think there’s some that just hate it, and it affects them in a negative way. It probably depends on who you are, but I know going through things more than once definitely helps you know how to prepare for what’s coming your way”

The #22 driver also spoke about the stress a driver is under when they are fighting in the final four. While drivers claim the championship race to be just another normal race, according to Joey Logano they are lying through their teeth. “We talked a minute ago about what the week is like leading into it, and all the other things you have to do, all the distractions, all the stress that’s there. It’s a hard week, there’s no doubt. I laugh all the time because so many drivers, in all three series, a lot of their answer is, we just treat it as another race, it’s just another race? BS, it’s not another race. Not even close, it’s the championship, it’s the biggest race you’ll ever be a part of.”

Logano has been through the week leading up to the finals 5 times. As opposed to Kyle Larson‘s three-time, Hamlin’s four, or even Chase Elliott’s three times. Naturally, Logano has an edge over others since he has dealt with the pressure more often. Logano, further in the conversation, opened up about how he deals with this pressure.

Joey Logano on the pressure of a championship race

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Logano’s run this year has shown that the Penske driver brings his best to the table when the chips are down. Logano only had a single win and four top-5s in the regular season. However, this was enough to progress. All drivers hope to start the playoffs on a high note, and Logano did the same, taking the checkered flag at Atlanta. His performance post this through to the ROVAL was mediocre. But a P8 in ROVAL kept him in a position to pounce if a place opened in the top 8. The cards came up in his favor, and he capitalized by winning the opening race of the final round and booking his spot in Phoenix. This shows the ease and calm with which the #22 Penske team operates.

The Penske driver recently dwelled on dealing with the pressure of a championship. He said, “Everybody’s different, right? Everybody handles things in different ways and some people get excited about the do or die situations and they want that. Some people want the ball as the clock winds down, they want to take the shot. And there’s other people who are like, I don’t want to be the guy that misses the shot. I want to be the guy that makes the shot. It is just a mindset. Everybody is just different.”

According to Logano, it’s about finding what works best for you. The #22 driver many times in the past has spoken about how he acknowledges the pressure, yet has mastered not letting it affect him, as it might ruin the moment. “I have found ways for me that work. It motivates me and makes me excited about those moments, these late race restart type moments.”

His handling of the pressure is perhaps the biggest reason behind him being one of the most successful drivers of the current era. What do you think about this? Can Logano win a third title? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.