For the third time in seven seasons, Joey Logano bears the consideration of being the defending champion of the NASCAR Cup Sequence.
At age 34, Logano is a wily veteran who has been lucky sufficient to characterize 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 suppose I’m extra comfy within the place and perceive the chance that’s forward of us because the champion,” Logano mentioned Nov. 22 forward of the 2024 NASCAR Awards. “There’s plenty of alternative to make the most of, whether or not it’s with the media, rising our sport, rising our race staff. … However you don’t need to simply waste the chance since you don’t know when you’ll ever have it once more, proper? They usually’re actually onerous to come back by. So being the present champion comes with plenty of duty, and also you don’t need to waste that.”
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Logano has lengthy embraced that place. As a younger prodigy storming his method up the racing ladder, eventual NASCAR Corridor-of-Famer Mark Martin sang Logano’s praises. Logano raced towards many NASCAR legends — four-time champion Jeff Gordon and three-time title winner Tony Stewart amongst them — and finally began beating them recurrently. Nevertheless it was the examples set by these drivers away from the observe that Logano admires most, crediting them for his willingness to be a pacesetter for the game at the moment.
“I’m solely like that as a result of different drivers have been like that for me,” Logano mentioned. “And to me, that’s what a real champion is, is any person that understands that we’re right here due to the folks 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 the moment. But when we don’t do the identical factor for the subsequent era, then our sport will die. That makes me actually unhappy to suppose that’s even attainable, however it’s. You’ll be able to’t simply get comfy and count on the whole lot to maintain going the best way it’s. You’ve received to maintain working at it.
“So I sit up for the chance to tackle that function and assist the place I can. There’s plenty of questions I’ve requested already, and plenty of issues to say, ‘Properly, can we do that, or can we do this?’ Or, , ‘We might do that a bit higher subsequent time.’ It’s vital to provide the suggestions again but in addition be seeking to do extra as properly.”
Such duty is a reward after overcoming the depth of a championship run towards 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 through the playoff run.
“It makes me higher for no matter motive,” Logano mentioned. “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 need extra strain on me. I need extra on my staff. I need that feeling. It makes it extra uncomfortable. It sucks. Nevertheless it makes us higher. And so I all the time play it that course, but it surely’s onerous. I imply, it’s more durable than something. It’s uncomfortable. You don’t sleep a lot in any respect. You’re simply pondering, proper? You’re wired. I’ve been sick for the reason that day earlier than the race. I received sick. I’m nonetheless sick. … I imply, it’s loads. There’s loads that goes on in your physique. It’s an enormous deal.”
That, Logano mentioned, is a byproduct of the toll that going via the title gauntlet will do to a competitor’s mind. A ten-week postseason shortly whittles down to at least one race the place the whole lot a driver has ever labored for is on the road.
“I’d say the psychological aspect of competing for championships is one thing that I don’t suppose everybody can perceive,” Logano mentioned. “All of us have the strain of life, proper, that hits you in numerous methods. And it could possibly be various things, proper? Could possibly be monetary, household, it could possibly be well being, these kind of pressures. However you’ve got time to suppose these out a bit bit. However that is all coming all the way down to in the future. You have got a possibility to make historical past, to influence so many households which are relying on you to do it. And it’s going to come back all the way down to a break up choice, proper, a fast choice. to win the championship. It’s going to come back all the way down to a second like that. that’s going to occur. There’s going to be a second.
“And then you definitely even have the concern of dropping, that strain. We received this far, and we didn’t capitalize, or a mistake that you just 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 while 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 properly.
His 2024 title elevated him to grow to be simply the to say no less than three championships, becoming a member of, amongst others, Stewart in these ranks. Logano’s introduction to the Cup Sequence got here in 2009, when he was simply 18 years outdated, changing Stewart within the No. 20 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing, a experience he occupied for 4 seasons and by which he collected two wins earlier than an eventual ousting.
“Yeah, there’s a bit pleasure there as a result of it didn’t go in addition to I wished to,” Logano mentioned of his JGR stint. “And there’s plenty of struggles there to even be (nonetheless) racing. So, yeah, there’s plenty of pleasure there.”
Their relationship has advanced over time 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 in a position to 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 Sequence 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 complete 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 making an attempt to do. He did a great job at it,” Logano laughed. “However it sort of feels cool that the silver spoon has received three championships like he does now.”
