Just when everyone thought that Joey Logano was out of the playoffs, the Team Penske driver made a comeback that nobody had ever imagined of as well. The Las Vegas Speedway saw Logano making it to the top after surpassing lead driver Christopher Bell. However, this victory has left fans divided about his direct placement in the Top 4. Wondering why? It seemed as if this year was Logano’s lucky year which covered up for his below-average performance on track.

However, it is not the fans alone who are taken aback by this victory. NASCAR veteran Dale Earnhardt Jr shared a similar view where he provided a complete analysis of what makes Logano’s performance below average. A well-planned fuel-saving strategy along with mistakes made by other drivers might be the ultimate formula that ensured Logano’s secured place in the Top 4.

Joey Logano receives criticism from Dale Jr. 

What seems to be a dream for Team Penske did not start with such a hunky-dory performance at all! Throughout the playoff season, Logano has marked his trajectory with too many lows and a few highs – most of which were chance victories. Although Logano managed to mark his victory at Quaker State 400 Atlanta, the aftermath was not very favorable. He ended up with four back-to-back losses with the Talladega wrecking Logano big time. Consequently, there was a popular opinion that he would not make it to the top 8. 

Post the Charlotte Roval Race, although Logano did not make it to the top 8, it seemed as if God had some other plans. After No. 48 driver Alex Bowman stood disqualified due to weight issues with the car post-inspection. His disqualification granted Logano the golden ticket to the top 8. Consequently, the South Point 400 which seemed to be predominantly under the clasps of Christopher Bell did not pan out as he dreamt. Although Bell led 157 out of the 267 laps, a pit stop let Joey Logano seal the deal. Ty Gibbs’s spin and Kyle Larson’s unprecedented pit stops also put the two lead drivers out of the way making it clear for Logano to capture his victory.

The statistics have also not been favoring Joey Logano this season. He has led only 315 laps in the 2024 season, which is less than anyone would expect. Reacting to this, Dale Earnhardt Jr mentioned, “That’s crazy, right? It doesn’t pass the eye test—you don’t even need stats to see that Joey just hasn’t been that great this year. But this is the way they’ve set up the pins at the bowling alley, and he knocked them down. The part I can’t get over is that he wasn’t even in until the No. 48 got penalized, and then he got in through that”. 

Logano’s performance statistics are also a testimony to the same. While no other driver has less than 9 top 5’s at the moment, Logano has only 5. His strongest competitors, Larson and Bell have 13 each for this year. Consequently, his Top 10’s are also limited to only 11 this year while other drivers have managed a bare minimum of 15. The Team Penske No.22 driver is ranked eighth in miles led and ninth in laps led this year. He has been able to lead 3.54 percent of all laps. However, three other drivers have led more than 10 percent — Larson (18.64 percent), Bell (11.53 percent), and Denny Hamlin (10.64 percent).

Joey Logano’s unexpected entry to the top 8 and a secured seat in the Top 4 has divided fans into two opinions as well. Some fans feel that Logano deserved this win. However, there is a majority section that does not side with this opinion. There has been debate about how Logano did not deserve to be in the top 4 with such limited victories. Reacting to such a bitter reaction from fans, Earnhardt Jr mentioned, “Joey is just doing Joey things, and for some, his entry into the final four seems automatic. Then, there are others who believe he doesn’t belong or deserve to be there, sparking plenty of debate”.  Do you also think that the No. 22 driver deserved the win or is luck by chance?

Is 2024 a mere recap of 2022?

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Although it seems as if Joey Logano has set the standings topsy-turvy, this is not the first time that he has been making such unpredictable moves. In the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series, Logano managed to get four wins throughout the season along with only 11 finishes in the top 5. However, he ended up securing a spot in the Top 4 after he made a cinema-like finish at the Vegas Speedway.

Joey Logano continued to prep for the finals and finally emerged victorious with Wolfe’s hand holding him through the process. 2024 marks the sixth time he has made it to the championship race since 2014, only through even years. Reacting to his win, Logano mentioned, “Hey, we haven’t had the best of seasons so far, but we’re working toward getting better. We’re working toward winning”. 

Logano’s victory at the Vegas Speedway has made him the first driver to secure a spot at the Phoenix Speedway. While Logano’s standing continues to make heads turn, winning in this series could mark his 3rd NASCAR Cup Series win. More importantly, with a win in Vegas, the No. 22 Penske Ford can focus on bringing the advantage to his teammate, defending champion Ryan Blaney.

At the moment, Blaney is in a position no defending champion wants to be in. He’s 47 points below the cutoff line, and going for points is not the solution in the coming races. This is where Joey Logano can help Blaney, helping him in any way possible to take the win at Homestead Miami. Do you think Joey Logano can take the Cup Series Championship and bring his teammate Ryan Blaney into the Championship Race? Let us know in the comments below!