Joey Logano and his No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford team managed a sixth place finish in Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas. (Photo: David Rosenblum | Nigel Kinrade Photography)
LAS VEGAS — Joey Logano and his No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang made the most of a challenging South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, turning a ninth-place start into a sixth-place finish despite early struggles in the stages. Logano finished 10th in Stage 1 and ninth in Stage 2, led a lap, and executed a bold strategy that helped salvage points in a critical stretch of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
The race unfolded as a test of patience and adaptability for Logano, whose Mustang showed flashes of speed but struggled to maintain long-run balance. Early in Stage 1, he battled for position amid a tightly packed field, settling into the midpack after qualifying ninth. While the car was competitive in short runs, longer stints revealed handling issues that forced Logano and crew chief Paul Wolfe to adjust strategy on the fly.
“That two tire stop made a lot of difference,” Logano said. “We had nothing to lose. We were kind of at the spot where we scored only a couple stage points, I think we were eighth and ninth in both stages and that’s not enough points to points race I didn’t think, so Paul made a good call and put us on the front row. That’s all you can hope for and you hope the two tires are decent. You hope that you can get clean air and maybe block your butt off to where you can do something.
“I didn’t get the push down the backstretch. The 48 had the option of who to push and he went with the 19, unfortunately, and that was enough to shove him ahead into three and be able to clear me. At that point, it was just kind of trying not to bleed very many spots there at the end. I was just trying to hang on to what I had there to get as many points as possible, so, overall, there were points in the race where I thought we were good enough to go up there and run with those guys on the long haul, and then the third stage we just got really loose and lost a ton of track position and it took us a minute to get the balance back.”
Logano’s day highlighted both the potential and the volatility inherent in a mile-and-a-half track like Las Vegas. While his Mustang had moments of speed capable of challenging the leaders, changes in track conditions and tire wear left the team scrambling for setup adjustments. The decisive two-tire call by Wolfe positioned Logano near the front of the field at a critical juncture, allowing him to maintain a competitive points haul despite the Mustang’s mid-race handling struggles.
Leading a lap gave Logano a brief taste of control, but he and the team knew that sustaining front-running speed would require precision, patience, and an ability to react to the changing conditions. The combination of strategic pit stops and short-term gains in track position allowed him to gain as many points as possible while avoiding costly mistakes in traffic.
Throughout the race, Logano remained focused on maintaining competitiveness within the Cup Series playoff framework. With one of the Round of 8 spots already locked in by another driver, every point counted as the series prepares to head to Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Oct. 19, for the YellaWood 500, the second of the three-race playoff round.
Joey Logano and his No. 22 Team Penske crew had to get innovative in Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade | Nigel Kinrade Photography)
“The closer we get, the more we’ve got to win,” Logano said when asked about the upcoming races. “I think we closed the gap a little bit today. I heard we were 21 points out. I’m not sure if that’s right or not, but I haven’t really looked at all the spots yet. It’s still possible to point in, but one of the spots are obviously taken up now.”
The Mustang showed flashes of competitiveness, particularly in clean air, but Logano was unable to fully overcome challenges in the third stage, where the car went loose and lost significant track position. Recovery required both patience behind the wheel and quick decision-making from the crew, who worked to bring the car back into balance while managing the risk of losing more positions.
Despite the difficulties, the sixth-place finish provided important points and momentum heading into Talladega, where restrictor-plate-style racing and draft positioning will play a critical role in playoff advancement. Logano’s team now carries a clearer picture of their Mustang’s strengths and areas for adjustment, knowledge that will be essential in maximizing their chances at victory in the remaining Round of 8 events.
The race also underscored the importance of adaptability and split-second decision-making in the playoffs. Logano’s ability to react to track changes, execute strategy under pressure, and maintain composure amid the intensity of the field allowed the No. 22 team to minimize damage in a race where outright speed alone was insufficient.
Looking ahead, Logano and the Shell/Pennzoil Mustang team will focus on translating the lessons from Las Vegas into a winning approach at Talladega. The need to win grows with each race, and the ability to execute flawless pit stops, position the car effectively in the draft, and respond to the unique challenges of a superspeedway track will be critical.
Sunday’s performance, while not a podium finish, demonstrated Logano’s ability to compete strategically, make decisive moves when opportunity presented itself, and salvage valuable playoff points in a challenging race environment. The two-tire gamble in the final stages served as a turning point, positioning the Mustang to minimize lost ground and remain in contention for the playoffs.
Logano’s focus heading into the next race reflects both realism and determination. The Mustang has shown potential, and with careful execution, the No. 22 team can continue to close the points gap and fight for a spot in the Championship 4.
Joey Logano hopes for a smoother Sunday ride after a gritty sixth place finish in Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas. (Photo: Matthew T. Thacker | The Podium Finish)
Las Vegas also highlighted the balance between aggression and conservation. While Logano had opportunities to challenge the leaders during clean runs, maintaining tire life and car stability ultimately dictated his ability to hang on and secure points. That balance will be even more critical at Talladega, where the draft can create sudden opportunities and challenges in equal measure.
For Joey Logano, the South Point 400 was a reminder that playoff racing is as much about strategy and adaptability as it is about speed. His sixth-place finish represents a solid step forward, points gained in a crucial stretch, and insight into the adjustments necessary for upcoming superspeedway and short-track challenges.
The No. 22 team will carry this experience into Talladega, focusing on winning and maximizing points to keep championship aspirations alive. Every lap, every pit stop, and every strategic decision will count in the high-stakes environment of the Round of 8, and Logano’s performance in Las Vegas provides a blueprint for how to stay competitive under pressure.
Ultimately, the South Point 400 illustrated both the difficulties and the resilience of Logano and his team. While the Mustang was not always perfectly balanced, smart strategy, timely pit calls, and the ability to navigate traffic allowed him to emerge with a sixth-place finish and keep the playoff hunt alive.
As NASCAR moves to Talladega Superspeedway, Logano’s focus will be on leveraging lessons from Las Vegas, executing aggressive yet calculated strategy, and positioning the No. 22 Ford Mustang to compete for a victory that could be pivotal for advancing in the playoffs.
Sunday’s race may not have ended with a top-five finish, but for Joey Logano and his Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang, it was a solid step in the Round of 8, combining resilience, strategy, and opportunistic moves to stay in the playoff hunt.
