By Luis Torres, Staff Writer
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Since the implementation of the Championship 4 in 2014, Joey Logano is one of four drivers that’ve made the title-deciding race five times (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022). As much experience as he has with 2018 being the pinnacle of his NASCAR Cup Series career, simply making it to the big dance isn’t enough.
Advancing into the Championship 4 following his win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway doesn’t satisfy him. Hoisting the Bill France Trophy satisifies the 32-year-old Team Penske driver.
Heading into Phoenix Raceway, Logano feels the entire No. 22 squad is in a great spot. It does indeed help that he was he first man to punch his ticket into the Championship 4 as preparation is paramount.
“We’re not happy to be here. We’re not just happy to be in the Championship 4. This isn’t enough for us,” said Logano.
“I feel like that’s a number one driver of the 22 team, to win this thing. I think with that mentality and the three weeks we’ve had since Vegas, to really focus in here, it’s going to give us a huge advantage to not only have a good practice plan and set our car up, but also execute this race correctly on top of the experience that we got.
“I’ve never felt more solid in this position than I do right now. With that said, I’m ready to go racing, ready to get out there. I know that. We feel prepared. We’re ready to go to battle.”
Since his only Cup title to date, Logano has had a new man calling the shots in Paul Wolfe, who was Brad Keselowski’s championship-winning crew chief in 2012.
Logano mentioned that Wolfe and Todd Gordon (Logano’s former crew chief) are completely different. All in large part of how a crew chief runs the joint.
“Paul and the whole team is different. It’s not just Todd and Paul. It’s Todd’s team and Paul’s team. They do things completely different. They’re not very alike really in any way. Not in a good or bad way either. They just lead their team in a different way. They make decisions in a different way,” Logano explained.
“It took me a little bit to just kind of understand where I place, as the leader of the team, how can I help Paul do his job, how can he help me do my job. Then how that is handled all the way through the whole team, right? Where is my strength, where is his strength? But more importantly where is his weakness and my weakness? How can we help each other?
“It’s the same…
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