“Not the Season We Wanted to Have” – Joey Logano Reflects on Being the First Defending Champion to Be Eliminated in the First Round of the Playoffs

The year 2023 was a splendid one for Team Penske. The team successfully defended the Cup Series championship as Ryan Blaney crossed the checkered flag in Phoenix. Amidst all the celebrations, there was still a moment of disappointment in the team, as, in the Round of 16, defending champion Joey Logano was ousted, making him the first champion to lose his title in the first round of the playoffs.

Being the only driver to win the championship multiple times since the introduction of the playoff system, Joey Logano’s elimination seemed like an anomaly. However, revealing his thoughts to the media on NASCAR Production Day, the 33-year-old divulged the challenges of 2023 and where the #22 team was lacking. Further, the two-time champion also emphasized the need for mid-race strategy and a better influx of points.

An uncharacteristic 2023 season for Joey Logano

Not just Team Penske, but Ford Performance also enjoyed bragging rights in 2023. Beating the ever-competitive Chevrolet, Ford drivers capitalized on a performance boost in the season’s latter stages. Thanks to that, Ford drivers claimed all three national NASCAR competitions. Watching the celebrations from afar, Joey Logano would have certainly hoped for a better outing.

When asked how he’d sum up his 2023, the Connecticut native said, “A bit of a struggle for sure, and not the season we wanted to have. I feel like we did a pretty good job on execution and maximizing our finishes. We didn’t get many stage points because we didn’t have enough speed. We weren’t fast enough. That’s the bottom line. We need to be faster. I think our team is still strong, and we can go out there and finish better than we have. I think the mid-race part and scoring more points, in general, are where we missed it.”

Securing stage points could have helped Logano’s case a lot. A lack of playoff points meant he was among the first four drivers to be eliminated. Some stage wins here and there could have contributed a lot, just like they helped Martin Truex Jr. However, his dismal outing in 2023 doesn’t detract from Joey Logano’s talent. NBC Sports has backed up his claim to the 2024 championship after crowning him as the leader in the power rankings for Ford Performance drivers entering 2024.

Logano leads the list for Ford Performance power rankings

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NBC Sports’ power rankings are evaluated based on a team’s situation entering the season and its past success through national competitions. The anticipation for Ford Performance’s power rankings was relatively high. Considering that the manufacturer swept NASCAR in 2023, it’d have been hard to classify a driver’s potential in 2024. Despite a disappointing season, Joey Logano has managed to trounce partner Blaney for the top position.

Since joining Team Penske in 2013, Logano has been to the championship four races five times and landed the title twice. Having recorded 30 wins in 10 years, Joey Logano is a fair shout to be Ford Performance’s most vital driver. With the Dark Horse Mustang being used in 2024, the #22 driver could experience a turnaround in fortunes and make it three in a row for Team Penske.

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The defending Cup Series champ Ryan Blaney had to settle for a P2 finish, while the RFK Racing driver duo and Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer rounded out the top five positions. Stewart-Haas Racing could be a surprise package with new additions and a replenished core. However, considering the team’s performances in the past few years, an SHR driver’s name in the top five would be surprising.

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