Joey Logano started the playoffs strong with a win at Atlanta; however, it’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since. Winning the first race guaranteed Logano’s spot in the top 12 but the next few races didn’t go according to plan. Joey Logano came in 15th at the Glen and 28th at Bristol, summarizing round 1.

Round two had him on the edge as Logano found himself facing elimination at the Roval race, where he finished 8th. A P14 finish at Kansas and the P33 finish at the detrimental Biggest One at Talladega had his team and fans worried about whether he would make it to the next round. Based on his performance, Logano’s name came up on Kevin Harvick’s podcast as a special guest shared his thoughts.

Joey Logano’s playoff redemption

Bob Pockrass appeared on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast to talk about the upcoming round. After all, Pockrass remains one of the most qualified individuals who can predict where the top 8 will go head-to-head in the last 4 races of the season. After discussing a few of the biggest stories in the sport, Mamba Smith asked Bob Krass a question. The question for Pockrass was, “Who is your dark horse when you look at the Round of 8 to get to the final?”

On the Happy Hour podcast, Pockrass replied to Mamba Smith, saying, “I would say it’s Logano because, you know, he—I mean, he was out, right? And now he got in. And, I mean, he’s a two-time champ, so he knows how to—he’s used to these pressure situations. You know, certainly, they ran well at the Roval.” Logano is currently 8th on the playoff charts, and he is 11 points behind the cut-off line. In the upcoming races, Logano needs to perform to get him in the top 4.

However, Pockrass is not done with his answer as he continues to reveal his relationship with Joey Logano, saying, “But I still—here’s the thing—I always doubt Logano, and he always proves me wrong. Yeah, so, uh, it… it—I still think, to me, he’s the dark horse, right? He’s the guy who wasn’t in the top seven in regular-season points and is still alive.” The whole reason Pockrass picked Logano is because he can make a comeback from difficult situations like we have seen in the past.

The two-time champion managed to win his 2018 and 2022 championships without winning a single playoff race until the top 8. Judging by this, many believe that he will pull up his socks and show everyone that although he is 8th on the list, that doesn’t mean he cannot fight for the title. However, the No. 22 Team Penske driver would have been out of the playoffs this year if it wasn’t for Alex Bowman getting disqualified from the race.

How did Alex Bowman’s disqualification save Joey Logano from elimination?

After the race at

Charlotte Motor Speedway, Joey Logano resigned himself to elimination from the playoffs. He was walking away from the track, ready to move on, when he caught wind of some post-race inspection rumors. Turns out, those rumors were spot on. Alex Bowman’s car failed to meet the minimum weight requirement, leading to his disqualification and an unexpected twist for Logano. With Bowman bumped to last place, Logano’s playoff hopes revived, and just like that, he was back in the top eight, still in the fight for his third Cup Series title.

The timing couldn’t have been better for Logano, as the next round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a track he knows well. Logano, who has won multiple races at Vegas, including last year’s South Point 400, is confident in his team’s progress. Despite not having the most consistent season with only two wins and an average finish of 18th, Logano believes they’re hitting their stride at just the right moment. “We’re still alive,” he said, emphasizing his team’s growing speed and determination.

While Logano’s return to the playoffs is a bit of a surprise, William Byron heads into Las Vegas riding a wave of momentum. Byron has been dominant, with three wins this season, including one at Vegas earlier in the year. He’s focused on staying consistent as the pressure builds, knowing that maximizing every race, not just winning, is key to advancing. Both drivers are feeling confident, but the next three races will determine who punches their ticket to the Championship 4.

Do you think Joey Logano will be able to clear this round? Share your thoughts in the comments below.