Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion team capped off the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season with a championship title following Sunday’s victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was his first win at Homestead and third victory of 2018. This is the first MENCS title for Logano and second for Team Penske following Brad Keselowski’s triumph in 2012.
“We did it! We won the championship! I can’t believe it. I don’t know what to say,” said Logano after the win. “Man, I worked my whole life to get here. To win a championship. We have been so close. It has been 10 seasons of fighting for this. I wasn’t sure we were going to get it but Todd (Gordon, crew chief) made a good adjustment at the end and we had that no quit attitude.”
Logano, who was the MENCS “Rookie of the Year” in 2009, now has cemented himself into the NASCAR history books with his first driver championship. In Logano’s third time making the “Championship Four” he beat the best of the best to gain that elusive crown after coming close in 2014 and 2016. Logano was able to fend off a trio of former champions who had dominated the 2018 season: defending MENCS champion Martin Truex, Jr., who had four wins in 2018; 2014 champion Kevin Harvick, who scored eight victories in 2018; and 2015 champion Kyle Busch, who also earned eight wins.
“We are thrilled for Joey, Roger Penske and the entire team,” said Carlos Maurer, president, Shell Lubricants Americas. “We are extremely proud to continue to be a part of a winning tradition at Team Penske, where Shell and Pennzoil are on the hood of the race car, and Shell technology is under the hood and playing a critical role in the team’s performance. Throughout the year, Shell scientists work hand-in-hand with Team Penske to optimize the Pennzoil racing oil that is critical to maximizing performance and engine reliability throughout the race. We are developing the next generation of high quality products for customers, and the knowledge gained through our work at the track is enabling us to do just that!”
The Pennzoil race oil in the No. 22 car is formulated using Pennzoil PurePlus® Technology, a revolutionary process which converts pure natural gas into high quality full synthetic base oil. In addition to blending a unique formulation for the Ford engine from week to week, Shell scientists also tailor high performance lubricants for the Team Penske gearbox.
“We really couldn’t do what we do, including competing for wins and championships, without the relationship we have with the scientists and everyone at Shell,” said Travis Geisler, Director of Competition at Team Penske. “When we ask to get something out of the motor oil that we put in our engines each and every week, they do whatever it takes to give us optimum performance, efficiency and reliability. It is that unique relationship that goes beyond having their name on the side of our car that makes what we do possible.”
Logano’s title brings Team Penske a total combined 503 wins, 577 pole positions and 33 national championships. Beginning as Roger Penske Racing in 1966, competing in sports car and endurance events, Team Penske has grown into one of the most successful racing teams – and sports teams – in the world with nearly 100 drivers turning a lap in competition for Team Penske.
For more information about the Shell-Pennzoil sponsorship, visit www.shell.us/racing. For more information about Pennzoil motor oil formulations, visit www.Pennzoil.com. For more information about Team Penske, visit www.teampenske.com.
Shell Pennzoil PR
