Another Title Run Saved by a Penalty Call?

1. Have Joey Logano’s Title Hopes Risen From the Dead?

I don’t know the church attendance habits of Joey Logano. But regardless of what they are, he should be running to a nearby altar thanking God for the fact that for the second year in a row, the title hopes of a Team Penske driver have walked out of the grave like Lazarus himself.

When Sunday’s race ended, it appeared that Logano was a few points short of advancing to the Round of 8. But as famed Lt. General Hal Moore famously said, “there is always something else you can do.”

With Alex Bowman’s car failing post-race inspection and Hendrick Motorsports declining to appeal the penalty, it’s Logano, not Bowman, into the next round.

This is not new for Team Penske. Last year, a penalty overturn kept Ryan Blaney’s title hopes alive and he made full use of that second life. Logano has a chance to do the same.

Logano has won races and championships in a similar way: being good enough to get into a position to win, and when that time comes, being his best when it matters most.

If Logano wins between now and the season finale? Look out.

2. Where’s the Line Between Entertainment and Driver Safety?

Charlotte Motor Speedway is to be commended for reacting to driver feedback and altering the turtles located around turn 16 of the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL before Sunday’s (Oct. 13) race.

But let’s not place a laurel of honor around anyone’s neck.

Tweaking the layout of a track, even in a small way, can throw a last-minute wrench in preparation for drivers and crew chiefs, giving everyone a better product. See this past spring at Bristol Motor Speedway.

That’s a great thing, without a doubt. But these changes should have a degree of driver input beforehand. Tracks don’t need to run every decision by drivers, but a group of two or three should be able to test out anything new at a track for reasons of safety, which ended up being cited as why the ROVAL made a last-minute adjustment.

Curveballs are nice. But if the question is about a more exciting racing product, it should never come at the expense of driver safety.

3. Bowman Is the Postseason’s Most Impressive Non-Champion

In the old days of NASCAR, there would be a Goody’s Headache Award given to a driver at the end of the Motor Racing Network broadcast who had a rough day.

If there was a modern version of it, that award coming away from Sunday would go to Bowman. He…