Joey Logano has a knack for the playoffs, doesn’t he? The two-time Cup Series winner knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the postseason, having reached the championship 4 five times since the elimination format was introduced in 2014. Funnily enough, his deep playoff run always coincides with the year ending with an even number, which makes his recent victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway so much more significant.

With the Cup Series heading to Watkins Glen International next for the 2nd race of the first round, the stakes are higher than ever for drivers hoping to make it into the Round of 12. NASCAR has always been a sport of fine margins, but when it comes to the 4 playoff rounds, the competition gets even more cutthroat, prompting Logano to make some bold predictions going into the 2024 Go Bowling at The Glen.

The unpredictability of playoffs

Despite leading just nine laps, Joey Logano secured a surprising victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway to secure a spot in the next round. It was his second win of the season, which meant he had already improved his tally from 2023 when he only won once. The Team Penske driver crashed out at Bristol Motor Speedway in the postseason last year, becoming the first defending series champion to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. However, the 34-year-old is back in his element and is hoping to use his experience to secure a third Cup Series championship.

Speaking ahead of the race at ‘The Glen’, the No. 22 Ford Mustang driver made some bold predictions in the pre-race press conference. Logano said, “I mean, the points are so so close, you go into the first race of any round, things are going to shuffle up because the points are so close. You have a couple of guys with issues like they did last week at Atlanta. It’s going to change stuff up quickly and we’ll be saying the same things when we leave Watkins Glen like, ‘Wow man, there’s going to be a crazy storyline and points battle going into Bristol’. It will definitely be tight I mean, no matter what. It’s going to be tight. It’s just not enough races to create a distance.”

Joey Logano may be the only driver locked into the Round of 12, but others aren’t far behind. While teammate, Ryan Blaney leads the points after the reset, just 45 points above the cutline, with Christopher Bell close on his heels, separated by only five points. Series champ Tyler Reddick and Daytona 500 winner William Byron are both standing with +33 points, while Byron’s HMS teammate Alex Bowman, Ford driver Austin Cindric, and the No. 9 from HMS remain at a striking distance, meaning the standings could shift dramatically at Watkins Glen.

With 10 postseason races, it’s tough for anyone to pull away in the standings. The unpredictability keeps fans on edge, especially with drivers like Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin sitting 10th and 11th but still capable of contending with a strong finish. Going to Watkins Glen, drivers like Daniel Suarez and Brad Keselowski, both close to winning at Atlanta, are also poised to shake things up. A multi-car crash or last-lap drama could completely flip the narrative ahead of the final Round of 16 race at Bristol.

It’s all about winning for Joey Logano

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Fans often underestimate just how brutal driving a racecar can be. Whether it’s because of the sweltering heat drivers are subjected to, or the G-forces that come into play after a high-speed collision, which could lead to injuries. While living in the fast lane has its perks, when it comes to Joey Logano, his motivation to race is to simply win.

A winning mentality can make all the difference when it comes to results on the track, especially when the competition is as intense as the NASCAR Cup Series. Maybe that’s why Joey Logano has already won two championships in his career and is on course to potentially win a third this season.

Revealing his motivation to compete on the track, the Team Penske driver said, “I think people like racing. We all do this because we like racing. We like to drive fast. I enjoy it for the most part. For me, honestly, I don’t do this for fun. I do it to win. We do it to make money, right? That’s what we do. To put championships and get trophies. That’s why we do it.”

Despite cementing his place in the Round of 12, Joey Logano won’t be taking it easy at Watkins Glen or Bristol Motor Speedway. With points on the line, the 34-year-old knows that getting good results in the remaining two races could make all the difference in the upcoming playoff rounds. The Connecticut native lives for the postseason pressure, so it should come as no surprise that he won’t be resting on his laurels anytime soon.