Joey Logano secured his third NASCAR Cup Series championship by taking the lead from William Byron soon after the final restart on lap 260 of the Championship Race in Phoenix. He maintained his position ahead of teammate Ryan Blaney until the finish. After the race, Logano praised his team, emphasizing their crucial role in his success.
With this victory, Logano joins an elite group of NASCAR drivers with three or more Cup Series titles. Legends like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson each have seven championships, while Jeff Gordon has four. Logano is now tied with notable drivers such as Lee Petty, David Pearson, Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip, and Tony Stewart. His recent championship run continues a streak of strong performances and solidifies him as a top contender in the sport.
Logano’s previous titles came in 2018 and 2022 when he also triumphed in the season finale. He has consistently reached the Championship 4 since NASCAR introduced the playoff format for the final race in 2014. “I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I have the best team,” Logano said.
During the race, Ryan Blaney quickly closed the gap on Logano after moving William Byron to second place, but he couldn’t overtake Logano in the last 10 laps of the 312-lap race. Logano started the race in second position and led for 107 laps. Christopher Bell led the most laps at 143 but finished fifth, while all four championship contenders finished in the top six.
The event featured only four caution flags, two for stage breaks, with incidents involving Ty Gibbs and Zane Smith. A rare moment occurred when the pace car caused a brief red flag due to hitting a sand barrel at pit road, requiring officials to clean up the spill.
Logano and his No. 22 team demonstrated their dominance throughout the 2024 season, claiming four race wins. Though his average finish was 15th, his timely victories in crucial playoff races, including a chaotic win in Nashville and key victories in Atlanta and Las Vegas, helped him advance through the playoffs and secure the championship.
Final race standings:
1. Joey Logano
2. Ryan Blaney
3. William Byron
4. Kyle Larson
5. Christopher Bell
6. Tyler Reddick
7. Bubba Wallace
8. Chase Elliott
9. Chris Buescher
10. Daniel Suárez
… (list continues)
Fan Take: Joey Logano’s championship run exemplifies the perfect blend of skill and teamwork that NASCAR fans admire. His ability to perform under pressure not only cements his legacy but also adds excitement and unpredictability to the sport’s future, energizing fans for seasons to come.
