Joey Logano Dominates in “Stoic” Drive to Third Cup Championship

Joey Logano’s No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford came alive at the perfect time for him to seize the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, November 10, 2024. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)

AVONDALE, Ariz. – In a heart-pounding 25-lap duel between Team Penske teammates, Joey Logano prevailed over Ryan Blaney at Phoenix Raceway to cement his name in the NASCAR history books as a three-time Cup Series champion.

All eyes were on the Championship 4 on Sunday as Logano, Blaney, Tyler Reddick and William Byron took center stage for the 2024 Cup Series Championship Race. Logano qualified the best out of the four drivers and started outside retiring polesitter Martin Truex Jr. Byron and Reddick lined up in the eighth and tenth positions, respectively. Back in 17th, Blaney held his composure, remaining confident after learning not to panic in stressful situations last year.

Truex shot out to a decent lead at the start of the race, but a caution quickly squashed his momentum. Ty Gibbs took a hard turn into the outside wall in Turn 1 on Lap 2, bringing a lengthy yellow flag out. 

On Lap 10, Logano seized the lead from Truex and did not look back. He led the next 40 laps until the end of Stage 1. Meanwhile, even though his long run speed was lacking, Blaney made his way up to sixth after passing Reddick. Despite crew chief Paul Wolfe’s concerns about their pace compared to Blaney’s, Logano dominated to win the first stage.

Logano’s momentum did not last, however. A fumble on the right front tire during stage break pit stops resulted in Logano losing four positions on pit road. Byron ended up with the best restart position of the four championship contenders in third, with Blaney, Logano and Reddick lining up fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively. 

Ryan Blaney pursuing back-to-back Cup Series championships, which would make him the first driver to do so since Jimmie Johnson. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)

After a brief delay under yellow when the Toyota Camry pace car unexpectedly hit the barrels at the beginning of pit road, the field restarted for Stage 2 with Christopher Bell in the lead.

Running in fifth place, Logano’s car seemed to lack the speed it had while he was in clean air during Stage 1. Reddick also struggled as he got stuck on the high line and faltered back to 10th. 

Stage 2 continued without issue and green flag pit stops began on Lap 118. All four championship drivers had solid pit stops and when the field cycled around, Blaney came out on top in second place, followed by Byron in third. 

Logano’s No. 22 Pennzoil Team Penske Ford came to life following that pit stop and he charged his way up to fourth behind Byron. Soon after, he was able to make the pass underneath Byron for third and set his sights on Blaney in second.

Bell cruised up front, but quickly came under attack by Blaney, who was on a mission to stay in front of Logano. He eventually made the pass on Bell for the lead, which actually worked out in Logano’s favor.

As Bell and Blaney continued to fight for the Stage 2 win, Logano sliced through the gap between himself and Bell. By the end of the stage though, it was not enough. Blaney picked up the Stage 2 win, with Logano in third, Byron in fourth and Reddick in 10th.

On the Stage 3 restart, Reddick started to show his cards when he made a sweeping move in the outside lane, passing five cars and landing in fifth. The Championship 4 were then running 2-3-4-5.

Tyler Reddick racing the No. 45 23XI Racing The Beast Unleashed Toyota at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)

Logano raced up to Blaney’s bumper and took the second spot away, but it was not meant to last. Blaney remained patient and passed Logano for second with 86 laps to go in the race.

With Blaney in front of him, Logano quickly cut down to pit road for his green flag pit stop on Lap 236. Blaney and Reddick followed suit, while Byron’s crew chief Rudy Fugle made what could have been a championship-winning call for the No. 24 to stay out.

Less than 15 laps later, Byron was called to pit road, just one lap before the caution waved on Lap 251. Byron, who had a relatively quiet race up until that point, was in a position to shoot to the lead on the newest tires. However, the other three championship drivers pitted under the yellow flag to even the score.

Byron lined up as the leader for the restart, but his good fortune was short-lived. Logano made a three-wide pass on the inside of Bell and Byron for the lead after the restart, which proved to be the winning move of the race.

With Reddick outside of the top five, it seemed to be down to Logano, Byron and Blaney. Logano stretched his lead over Byron in second as Blaney’s car came alive, taking chunks out of the gap to Byron. As the leaders came into lapped traffic, Blaney made the pass on Byron and pursued Logano until the very end. 

The NBC Sports analysts called Logano “stoic” as he held strong in his lead, never making a wrong move. Blaney drove as hard as he could, diving down to the apron where not many drivers had gone, and adjusting his brake bias to make it through the corners more smoothly.

In the end, Blaney fell short of the championship. Logano hit his marks flawlessly to win the race and with it, his third Cup Series title.

Joey Logano celebrating his third NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, November 10, 2024. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)

“I love the playoffs,” Logano said post-race with a smile. “What a race. What a Team Penske battle there at the end. Had a good restart and was able to get in front of the 12 and he had a lot of long run speed there. It was all I had there to hold him off.

“Man, three of ‘em. That’s really special. What a team to fight through today.”

Blaney was clearly disappointed and exhausted after running so hard at the end. 

“Just couldn’t quite get there,” Blaney said. “I tried really hard to do so, just the restart didn’t really work out and he got too far away from me and it took me a while to pass a couple guys. Just could never get by Joey and ran out of time.

“If we’re gonna race somebody, I’m glad it was him for the championship. I’m happy to be 1-2 for Roger [Penske]. Three in a row for Roger is super amazing.”

After a short-lived stint up front, Byron finished third and Reddick, who could not seem to find his groove all afternoon, finished sixth. 

Now, all three NASCAR series enter the offseason for some much-needed rest and time to work on next year’s racing programs. The first event of the 2025 season will be the Busch Light Clash, which will take place at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Sunday, February 2nd.