Joey Logano acknowledges financial impact of playoff elimination, but stays focused on championship win

NASCAR driver Joey Logano has shared his thoughts on the financial repercussions that come with playoff eliminations. Logano secured his spot in the Round of 12 after winning the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Joey Logano pilots the #22 Ford for Team Penske, competing full-time in the Cup Series. In his 17-year career, Logano has secured two Cup Series championships (2018, 2022) and has 66 race wins, of which 34 have come in NASCAR's top division. Moreover, he is a two-time winner of the Bristol Night Race and has driven down victory lane in the prestigious Daytona 500.

Ahead of the Go Bowling at the Glen playoff race at Watkins Glen International, Joey Logano expressed his concerns regarding the financial impact of missing out on the playoffs and the mindset of the #22 team for the remainder of the season. During a media session at Watkins Glen, Logano said (via Bob Pockrass on X):

"That's the mindset when you get knocked out, like the immediate moment when you get knocked out. It's like, 'okay, how do we finish fifth in points right like how do we get to that?' But when you're still in the playoffs, it's just, 'how do we win the championship?' It's all that matters. It's about winning."

"You don't remember the years where you finished seventh or eighth and points or 10th or 12th like. It just goes away. Now there's a financial impact that does matter, but at this point of the season, In the playoffs, it's really about, 'how do we look at positioning the #22 in Victory Lane in Phoenix?' That's really what matters right now," Logano added.

Joey Logano currently holds P5 in the drivers' standings, trailing his Penske teammate Ryan Blaney by just 17 points. Logano will start the playoff race at Watkins Glen International in P7, aiming to build on his success this season.

---

Joey Logano feeling confident about his prospects of winning third Cup title

Joey Logano has made a tremendous start to his 2024 title chase, winning the first playoff race and advancing to the Round of 12. Although the initial stages of the 2024 season were not fruitful for teams powered by Ford engines, recent results have shown that Ford performance is back on track with providing a championship-winning car.

Ahead of the playoff race at Watkins Glen, Logano was asked how confident he felt about adding another championship title to his tally. He said:

“We’ve been here before where we’ve not had the best regular season, and then the playoffs start, and you’re like, 'Where did all that come from?' It happens a lot. So I’d say we’ve always felt pretty confident that we can go win the championship on any year no matter how you get into playoffs," he said. [18:00]

You can catch Joey Logano in action at Watkins Glen International in the second playoff race at 3:00 PM ET on USA Today, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio.