1. Joey Logano loves him some new tracks, surfaces, etc.
When pondering adding more races at new-to-NASCAR Cup Series venues or modifying current races with a new surface or twist of some sort, NASCAR needs to ask itself one important question first: Do you want Joey Logano to win the race?
That’s said partially in jest, but not completely. The elder statesman (sorry, but it’s true) of the Team Penske camp is NASCAR’s current king of adaptability, proving it again Sunday (June 5) by taking the checkered flag in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
He was hardly dominant, as three drivers led more than his 22 laps in front. But as he often is when the Cup Series tries something new, Logano was in position to win when it mattered and pounced when others experienced misfortune.
The victory means that Logano has won three of the last six new races in the Cup Series; along with his Gateway triumph, he also took first place in the season-opening exhibition race at the Los Angeles Coliseum, as well as the inaugural Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track race last year.
Does his skill at navigating new tracks and formats mean anything in terms of his championship aspirations? For 2022, probably not, as there are no first-of-their-kind events left on this year’s schedule.
For next year and beyond, though, it might — assuming NASCAR continues to tinker with its annual Cup slate. Some drivers are just better at adapting to change than others. This season brought the new car and a new race to the party, and Logano happens to be tied for the series lead with two victories so far. Continue to change things up and he’ll probably just thank you for doing it.
2. The person most likely to ruin Ross Chastain’s feel good season is Ross Chastain
Nothing can stop the Ross Chastain bandwagon, right? Long a favorite of the “this guy would be amazing if he was given a chance in better equipment” crowd, the Trackhouse Racing Team driver has…
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