Petty is a seven-time NASCAR champion, and to date, he has been at the top of 200 races. This is a record, and he can give any driver a good run with his impeccable track record. Here’s what the legend had to say about the Team Penske championship favorite and his expectations regarding him.
Richard Petty wishes for Joey Logano
On Sunday, Joey Logano claimed his third win in the 2024 Cup Series by expertly managing his fuel strategy. Logano stretched his fuel capacity to the limit, completing 74 laps on a single tank, showcasing both skill and resilience. This victory, following previous wins at Nashville and Atlanta, secured his spot in the Championship 4. The only driver with more wins than Logano this year is Kyle Larson, who currently holds six victories. Just to imagine that he made this victory after getting eliminated and a wildcard entry at the Roval is simply bizarre!
Richard Petty sat down for a Fan Questions segment where he recounted Logano’s prowess on the track recently and the form he has been showing. Answering, “Based on the 22 team performance over the full season, is it justifiable that he is in the Championship 4?” Richard Petty said, “Yeah, he’s the top car everywhere he goes. A lot of times he’s maybe not the fastest, but he is always in the Top 8 or Top 10. No matter where they run. Yeah, and this is what they have run the third race this year. He definitely needs to be in the champion run.”
- The No. 22 Ford did not show the best performance on the field, and the speed pickup was also not highly impressive. This made the car not qualify as a winning car, but indeed it was among the top 5 cars. Joey Logano is a two-time Cup Series champion, and his alliance with Team Penske has contributed to 67 victories to date.
- Logano has also been the only driver in the grid who has appeared in the top 8 most often compared with any other driver. For the last four years, he has been making it to the Top 4. This appearance on the field and drive-throughs have added to his pool of experience and further enhanced the chances of a win.
The strategies that Team Penske and Logano have come up with over this season have been unique and, in most cases, have been the driving force behind the wins. Speaking for his second victory of the season in Atlanta, which came after he received a slight push from teammate Ryan Blaney, he managed to topple Suarez and make the overtime count. Recounting his excellent performance, Logano mentioned, “It’s all about maximizing the opportunity that’s ahead of us. As proud as I am that we’ve made it, I also feel like the job’s far from over because I know what that feeling is if you don’t make it happen.” Team Penske and Logano seem to be capitalizing on their strategy, and certainly, the three victories in the season have been a testimony.
Does Logano have a healthy stance of winning at Phoenix?
Joey Logano has showcased an impressive performance, standing as the only Ford driver with three wins this season. This places him in a strategically favorable position. Throughout the season, Logano and his team have collaborated closely.
Speaking of their teamwork and how the 22-man team is looking to use two weeks for the championship, Logano’s crew chief Paul Wolfe also added, “We were the best team. And ultimately, like I said at the end of the day, it doesn’t say who is the fastest car. It said who was the best team, and carrying the trophy home and being able to focus on Phoenix for two weeks is what it’s all about. And the last time you guys got two weeks to prep for Phoenix, you won a championship. And I really like our short-track program; this year has been very strong. We’ve won, you know, our share of races as a company, and that gives me a lot of, a lot of hope going to Phoenix, and I know we can go there and win the race.”
To manage speed limitations, the team focused on fuel-saving strategies, with Next-Gen cars relying on factors like drag and track characteristics. While some tracks showcased the Next Gen’s strengths, others exposed weaknesses, leading to unpredictable Top 10 standings. Despite challenges, Joey Logano skillfully avoided major wrecks, bouncing back from his Charlotte disqualification to secure a win. With his past championships in 2018 and 2022, he’s in a solid position for another playoff push this season.
Expressing his hunger for victory, Logano mentioned, “I know that it just drives me to not have that feeling. I love the feeling of winning, but I hate the feeling of losing even more.” He has led 3.54 percent of the laps and secured six top-5 finishes this year.
Additionally, even Kyle Larson and his crew chief, Cliff Daniels believe Joey is a championship worthy. Larson sharing his fear added, “Joey is dangerously good, You can never count him out anywhere. He’s the guy that gets the benefit of (Bowman’s DQ) and it’s like, ‘Dang, man. He’s a tough competitor.’ He’s one you have to keep your eye on.” And, his crew chief also said, ““Never doubt Joey Logano and (crew chief) Paul Wolfe when it comes to fuel-mileage races, They’re so good at it, and obviously they made it work today.”
But do you think Logano will be able to notch another championship this year and complete a hat trick?
