Joey Logano takes a breather after a hard fought fifth at Kansas. (Photo: Cole Penning | The Podium Finish)
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – As Joey Logano has demonstrated throughout his career, he is resourceful and scrappy.
Like the adage about the difficulties of putting a good man down, the same can be said for the 33-year-old defending and two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. When it seems he has no where to go, he finds a way to make the best of a tough situation
This was the case in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Starting from the 11th position, the Middletown, Connecticut native was not an immediate contender for the Team Penske racer.
Initially dropping to a 16th place finish in Stage 1, the driver of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang saw the tide turning in his favor by Stage 2. With multiple pit strategies deployed for the lead lap contenders, this greatly jumbled up the scoring rundown in Logano’s favor.
Placing eighth in Stage 2, Logano netted three stage points. Once Stage 3 was underway, the seesaw pit stop tactics did not bode well for Logano with fresh tires prevailing for those inside the top 15.
For the majority of the Kansas race, Joey Logano and his No. 22 team had to be innovative. (Photo: Cole Penning | The Podium Finish)
For a while, it appeared as if Logano was going to be mired to a top 15 result. However, a caution on Lap 262 for Chris Buescher set up a frantic final pit stop sequence for the lead lap contenders ahead of a dramatic Overtime restart.
As the lead lap contenders, led by Denny Hamlin, proceeded to their pit stalls, Logano’s No. 22 team, primarily by a bold call from crew chief Paul Wolfe, opted for right side tires and fuel.
“It was enough in the sense that we were running 15th when the caution came out,” Logano said. “Paul did a good job at making a good call there, and putting us in position.”
This put Logano toward the top five, restarting on the inside of Row 2 behind new leader Daniel Suárez, who gambled for track position. Once the green flag was unfurled for the decisive Overtime restart, Logano was in prime position to tally his second win of the season.
Then again, a chance at a golden ticket to the Round of 12 was not in the offing for the stock car veteran.
“I could see the lead,” he said. “We were right there. If I was able to just clear the No. 43, it might have looked a little different. But, I couldn’t quite clear him. It just allowed [Tyler] Reddick to get a big run once we started getting swallowed up by the four-tire cars.
“You’re just on defense after that. So, we had our chance into three there, and just wasn’t quite good enough to finish it off there.”
Despite the wild scramble, Logano managed to place fifth, a far better result than the potential finish prior to the caution.
Tallying an important fifth place finish, Joey Logano added some daylight to the Playoffs cutoff line. (Photo: Cole Penning | The Podium Finish)
More importantly, Logano is 12 points to the good ahead of 13th place Martin Truex Jr., the regular season champion. Although Logano is far from being out of the woods, the circuit makes its way to Bristol Motor Speedway.
Logano, who has won three times, including the 2014 and 2015 Bristol Night Races, is ready for a Saturday night fight for a sword.
“Overall, I’m glad we had a decent points day,” Logano said. “We needed it. We were on the cutline, or close to it coming in. I don’t know where we are now. Didn’t have the best of stages. So, we’ll fight again at Bristol.”
