Joey Logano won his fifth race of the season last week at Kansas, but from his perspective he also accomplished an important “first” that went beyond earning a guaranteed spot in the eliminator round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
With points reset after the first round of the Chase, Logano’s win last week put the 24-year-old Team Penske driver on top of the standings of NASCAR’s premier division for the first time in his career.
Not that he wouldn’t have been there anyway. With two victories and two fourth-place finishes in the first four Chase races, Logano boasts an average finish of 2.5, best in the series.
“I’m enjoying the fact of being in the point lead for the first time and seeing some of the results of the hard work that you’ve put in over the last few years—to see that,” Logano said. “That part is really nice, but I guess I’m never where I want to be.”
Despite his youth, Logano already has learned that resting on success is the quickest way to lose ground.
“If you ever feel like you’re there, it’s only going to be a couple weeks until somebody passes you, so you’ve always got to be looking ahead, and I think that’s the attitude that I’ve had my whole life,” Logano said.
- NASCAR WIRE: Weekend Preview: Talladega Superspeedway - April 18, 2024
- Journey back to the top has brought Elliott and the No. 9 team closer - April 16, 2024
- Chase Elliott wins in double overtime, snaps 42-race winless streak at Texas - April 15, 2024