“We’re definitely on the search for speed with Joey Logano’s team”: Penske director on improving the 2x NASCAR champion’s team

Two-time NASCAR Cup champion Joey Logano booked his playoff ticket with the victory at Nashville Superspeedway. Despite the victory, Team Penske executive Travis Geisler believes that Logano lacks the speed shown by reigning champion Ryan Blaney, who is leading the Ford contingent.

Blaney, the #12 Penske driver, has clinched two victories and came close to winning at both Gateway and Indianapolis. While the 30-year-old and the team have shown improved performance over the summer months, Logano and the #22 Ford team have been inconsistent.

Penske's competition director, Travis Geisler, evaluated the performance of his three teams at the halfway point of the season. Geisler reckons that Blaney has the potential to make a deep playoff run but doesn't have similar optimism for Logano and Austin Cindric.

The Penske director emphasized that the #22 team has executed well but lacks the raw speed demonstrated by Blaney's team. He admitted that Logano's prospects for a lengthy playoff journey are constrained by a solitary win and that the organization remains focused on improving their overall speed.

"I think the No. 22, we’ve got to find a way to find some more speed there," Geisler told RACER.com. "They execute really well, they do all the little things right, we just have to find some more overall speed because you’re not going to get through the playoffs with one win going into it and not have a win somewhere (else). When you get to that final round to get in the final four, if you only go in there with a handful of bonus points, it won’t happen. So, I think we’re definitely on the search for speed there."

Logano and his crew chief, Paul Wolfe, are a formidable duo, often outfoxing their competitors with strategic acumen. However, their tactical brilliance needs to be backed up with consistent speed to put themselves in the mix for the championship.

Blaney currently occupies fifth place in the regular season standings. Meanwhile, Logano is 15th in the standings, four spots ahead of his younger Penske teammate, Austin Cindric.

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Kevin Harvick believes Joey Logano & team not performing at Ryan Blaney's level

Former NASCAR Cup champion Kevin Harvick believes Ryan Blaney is carrying substantial momentum as the playoffs approach. Harvick also mentioned that his veteran teammate, Joey Logano, is not performing at the same level.

Praising the #12 Penske team's performance and execution, Harvick said that the defending champion's team is firing on all cylinders.

"The 12 car is in the hunt. …They have got the ship headed in the right direction. They’ve been performing well, in contention. Jonathan (Hassler) calls a great race week after week. He does a great job on the pit box, and they’re firing on all eight cylinders,"Harvick said on Happy Hour podcast [at 32:38]

He added that Logano hasn't been able to match Blaney's level and also commented on Austin Cindric's lackluster form.

"Logano is not quite like the 12, I don’t think Cindric has anything for those two cars," he added

Joey Logano suffered a premature playoff elimination last season and must enhance his speed to clinch a third consecutive Next Gen championship for Roger Penske.