AVONDALE, Ariz. — At 34 years old, Joey Logano is competing in his 16th full-time season of NASCAR Cup Series racing, and on Sunday, he’ll try for his third series title in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.
The driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford is the unrivaled veteran of Championship 4 events, having qualified for a record sixth this season. All his Championship 4 appearances have come in even-numbered years since NASCAR adopted the elimination format in 2014.
It was a relaxed, confident Logano who greeted reporters on NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 Media Day on Thursday at the one-mile flat track. That stood in sharp contrast to the driver who tried for his first title 10 years ago.
“It’s completely different,” said Logano, who shares the lead with Kyle Busch for most championships among full-time active drivers with two. “I remember my first time. How do you not get nervous the first time you sit in here, with all you guys talking.
“You’ve got the thoughts of what the championship would mean to your career, your team—and will you ever get another chance? It’s something you really want to click off and say you’re a NASCAR champion. All this stuff goes through your mind.
“That was something my first time that really… it got to me. I don’t see how it doesn’t, especially when you’re younger. Now you start to get comfortable in the scenario, you start to love the pressure and get excited more than nervous. That’s a big deal.”
A third title would put Logano in elite company, tied with Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip and Tony Stewart—all NASCAR Hall of Famers. Only seven-time champions Richard Petty, Dale Earnhart Sr. and Jimmie Johnson and four-time champion Jeff Gordon have more.
Logano, however, isn’t concerned with his legacy just yet.
“When it comes to individually, I don’t think about it that much,” said Logano, who won the first of two straight titles for Team Penske in 2022. “I think of it more as a team, because I know what a championship is worth to everybody.
“So I think that matters more. The individual piece, to say you’ve got three of them, I mean that’s great, but I think because I’m still doing it, I don’t look at it that much. But I’d like to see the people that I care about on the race team celebrate.”
In order for the No. 22 team to celebrate, though, Logano will have to beat William Byron, Tyler Reddick and his own teammate, 2023 champion Ryan Blaney.