For the third time in seven seasons, Joey Logano bears the glory of being the defending champion of the NASCAR Cup Collection.
At age 34, Logano is a wily veteran who has been lucky sufficient to symbolize the game as its main voice twice prior. Full-time in NASCAR’s high sequence since 2009 — now 16 years in the past — the Connecticut native has a greater comprehension of the magnitude of the duty that comes with being the drivers’ high consultant.
“I assume I’m extra snug within the place and perceive the chance that’s forward of us because the champion,” Logano stated Nov. 22 forward of the 2024 NASCAR Awards. “There’s numerous alternative to reap the benefits of, whether or not it’s with the media, rising our sport, rising our race group. … However you don’t wish to simply waste the chance since you don’t know when you’ll ever have it once more, proper? They usually’re actually laborious to return by. So being the present champion comes with numerous duty, and also you don’t wish to waste that.”
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Logano has lengthy embraced that place. As a younger prodigy storming his manner up the racing ladder, eventual NASCAR Corridor-of-Famer Mark Martin sang Logano’s praises. Logano raced in opposition to many NASCAR legends — four-time champion Jeff Gordon and three-time title winner Tony Stewart amongst them — and finally began beating them repeatedly. However it was the examples set by these drivers away from the monitor that Logano admires most, crediting them for his willingness to be a pacesetter for the game at this time.
“I’m solely like that as a result of different drivers had been like that for me,” Logano stated. “And to me, that’s what a real champion is, is any person that understands that we’re right here due to the individuals earlier than us — the media members earlier than you guys, the opposite drivers earlier than me, the crew chiefs earlier than these crew chiefs, house owners earlier than them. All these legends grew the business that all of us reap the advantages of at this time. But when we don’t do the identical factor for the subsequent technology, then our sport will die. That makes me actually unhappy to suppose that’s even doable, however it’s. You’ll be able to’t simply get snug and anticipate every part to maintain going the way in which it’s. You’ve acquired to maintain working at it.
“So I stay up for the chance to tackle that position and assist the place I can. There’s numerous questions I’ve requested already, and numerous issues to say, ‘Nicely, can we do that, or can we do this?’ Or, you recognize, ‘We may do that just a little higher subsequent time.’ It’s necessary to provide the suggestions again but additionally be seeking to do extra as nicely.”
Such duty is a reward after overcoming the depth of a championship run in opposition to three different elite rivals, this yr a trio that included Ryan Blaney, William Byron and Tyler Reddick. Logano thrives in these pressure-filled conditions — a lot in order that he deliberately provides extra throughout the playoff run.
“It makes me higher for no matter cause,” Logano stated. “That’s why I all the time add the strain once we go into the Championship 4. I all the time say the massive issues. I would like extra strain on me. I would like extra on my group. I would like that feeling. It makes it extra uncomfortable. It sucks. However it makes us higher. And so I all the time play it that course, but it surely’s laborious. I imply, it’s more durable than something. It’s uncomfortable. You don’t sleep a lot in any respect. You’re simply considering, proper? You’re stressed. I’ve been sick for the reason that day earlier than the race. I acquired sick. I’m nonetheless sick. … I imply, it’s rather a lot. There’s rather a lot that goes on in your physique. It’s a giant deal.”
That, Logano stated, is a byproduct of the toll that going by way of the title gauntlet will do to a competitor’s mind. A ten-week postseason rapidly whittles down to 1 race the place every part a driver has ever labored for is on the road.
“I’d say the psychological facet of competing for championships is one thing that I don’t suppose everybody can perceive,” Logano stated. “All of us have the strain of life, proper, that hits you in numerous methods. And it might be various things, proper? Might be monetary, household, it might be well being, these kind of pressures. However you will have time to suppose these out just a little bit. However that is all coming right down to in the future. You may have a chance to make historical past, to influence so many households which are relying on you to do it. And it’s going to return right down to a cut up resolution, proper, a fast resolution. to win the championship. It’s going to return right down to a second like that. that’s going to occur. There’s going to be a second.
“And you then even have the worry of shedding, that strain. We acquired this far, and we didn’t capitalize, or a mistake that you simply made. I imply, you’d be mendacity to your self when you didn’t suppose this about that stuff, proper? Everyone does. And it’s the way you deal with that that makes the distinction, that makes you a real risk once you get there.”
After all, after 16 seasons and a number of Cup championships on his resume, Logano has a few take-that moments to his credit score as nicely.
His 2024 title elevated him to change into simply the to assert no less than three championships, becoming a member of, amongst others, Stewart in these ranks. Logano’s introduction to the Cup Collection got here in 2009, when he was simply 18 years previous, changing Stewart within the No. 20 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing, a trip he occupied for 4 seasons and during which he collected two wins earlier than an eventual ousting.
“Yeah, there’s just a little satisfaction there as a result of it didn’t go in addition to I needed to,” Logano stated of his JGR stint. “And there’s numerous struggles there to even be (nonetheless) racing. So, yeah, there’s numerous satisfaction there.”
Their relationship has advanced through the years to a spot of fine nature, however early on was “Silver Spoon,” referencing Logano’s quick rise to NASCAR and the monetary help Logano’s father was capable of contribute. The 2 had a fierce on-track rivalry at occasions, most clearly at California Speedway when Stewart took exception with a block Logano made on a late-race restart.
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Stewart ended his Cup Collection profession in 2016 with 49 victories and three championships in 618 begins throughout 18 seasons. In 579 begins throughout 17 seasons, Logano has equaled Stewart’s title whole and earned 36 wins.
“I did make a joke to my dad afterwards as a result of the Silver Spoon remark — that all the time pissed me off, which is what he was attempting to do. He did an excellent job at it,” Logano laughed. “However it sort of feels cool that the silver spoon has acquired three championships like he does now.”
