In his decade-and-a-half-long Cup Series career, Joey Logano has seen many ups and downs. The Penske driver has raced hard, been involved in controversies, and also been a victim of them, like how Austin Dillon in the Richmond race prevented him from taking a win by shoving him out of the way in the last lap. But the #22 driver has never seen something of the magnitude of what unfolded in Martinsville!

“There have been times when this has happened and it’s probably to an acceptable level, but that was the most extreme that I have seen in a very, very long time,” This is what he recently said on the matter. Well, there is no denying that race manipulation exists in NASCAR, but to do it so blatantly is what has surprised many, including Joey Logano. The #22, after winning the Las Vegas race, was just a bystander looking at all the drama unfolding at Martinsville as he waited to find his competitors in the Phoenix race. Recently, Logano lauded NASCAR’s efforts while the racing organization has been put in a spot thanks to Martinsville.

Joey Logano opens up on NASCAR’s position in situations like Martinsville

At the race, Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon caused a traffic jam as they blocked the field behind them to aid their Chevy colleague, William Byron. The #24 driver was in a tussle with Christopher Bell for the final spot, and the two were separated by a single point. Byron and Bell have been two of the most consistent drivers of these playoffs and with just one point between either of their championship hopes ending, their teams resorted to illegal tactics.

Radio conversations between #1 and #3 (both Chevrolet) revealed a coordinating effort to cause a blockade for Byron. However, the Toyota faction wasn’t one to back down either. Bell needed a position gain and his Toyota teammate, Bubba Wallace, slowed down at the very end of the race to let the #20 pass.

While all three teams involved in this race manipulation have denied their involvement, NASCAR has shown time and again that they don’t take kindly to the use of unfair means to race. Hence, the drivers have 50 points docked off with a penalty of $100,000. Alongside them, the teams have their crew chiefs, spotters and race executive suspended for Phoenix in addition to them also being fined $100,000. Joey Logano ahead of these penalties being enforced, talked about the challenges NASCAR faces in such cases.

At the Championship 4 production day, he said, “I don’t envy NASCAR’s position in this. First off that’s a hard spot for them to be in because everyone is looking at them to enforce this rule. Rules that are there for a reason because this has happened before. But a rule is only a rule if it is enforced. If not, it’s just written in a book and it doesn’t mean anything. It’s gotta be enforced. So their back is up against the wall to make some very challenging decisions and just like anything else if you don’t enforce the rule it’s going to continue to happen.”

According to Logano, NASCAR has to keep its drivers and teams happy as well as maintain the integrity of the sport. And choosing one over the other is what makes the decisions so tough to make. Especially when it happened so openly and at such a crucial juncture in the season. “NASCAR is our governing body that’s what they do. They have to enforce the rules that are there in that handbook. And it’s a lot of them so it’s a lot to take care of. That’s why I don’t envy their position at all. But this one was definitely taken to an extreme level…With the Toyota falling back and the Chevy’s running a roadblock. That’s pretty extreme stuff.”

In the end, Bell was penalized for pulling a ‘Hail Melon 2.0’ for the finish and William Byron joined Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and defending champion Ryan Blaney in the championship four. Would it be a Penske dominance or will we get a first-time champion? only time will tell.

What are Joey Logano’s chances to bag a third title?

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The upcoming finale race is going to have a lot at stake for Team Penske. Firstly, they are attempting a three-peat of Cup series drivers championships with the last two being Logano (2022) and Ryan Blaney (2023). Secondly, if Joey Logano wins, it would make him the most successful driver among the active ones, as no one has yet managed to get three championships. He would be joining an esteemed group of NASCAR veterans who have won three championships, including Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson, and Lee Petty.

Currently, Joey Logano has two championships and the only other active driver to achieve that feat is Kyle Busch. Regardless, the #22 driver can be considered the most consistent among the current group. He’s the only one to have made it to the championship 4 on six occasions since the elimination format was introduced in 2014. So clearly, he’s got experience in his favor. This is Byron’s third time, Blaney’s second, and Reddick’s 1st.

However, if we consider average finishes at Phoenix, Logano is bested by Blaney’s 10.9 and Byron’s 11.8 as opposed to his 13.5. While Tyler Reddick is miles apart from all at 17.9. However, Logano is the winningest among the 4 on this track, having bagged 3 wins over his career so far. Byron has one win and Blaney and Reddick have never been in the victory lane. While Logano might not have the best finishing average, he surely has more race experience. So far, he’s made 31 appearances at Phoenix, Whereas Byron has 13, Blaney has 17, and Reddick has 9 times raced here in the Cup.

Plus Logano also has been extremely lucky this year. After not having the best regular season, he snuck his way into the playoffs. Similarly, he had a mediocre playoff run yet kept progressing to the next rounds. Then, when it seemed like the even-year magic was over after being eliminated from the round of 12, Alex Bowman suffered a penalty, and his spot was given to Logano in the round of 8. He wasted no time once making it to the final playoff round and won the very first race to book his spot in the championship 4. So overall the #22 driver has a lot going on for him, and he might just bag his third title this Sunday.

Who do you think is going to be crowned the 2024 champion? Let us know in the comments below.