Joey Logano preparing to run in single car qualifying for the Daytona 500 on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Last year’s Daytona 500 weekend started out perfectly for Penske Racing’s Joey Logano, but the sunshine and rainbows were not meant to last.
The Middletown, Conn. native led the field of the 2024 Daytona 500 to the green flag and stayed out front for the most laps of any driver that day. With less than 10 laps to go, the inevitable “Big One” wiped out nearly half of the field, including the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford.
One year and one NASCAR Cup Series championship later, Logano is ready to take another swing at getting his second career Daytona 500 victory.
“I think we have a good Shell/Pennzoil Mustang,” Logano said to Regan Smith during single car qualifying. “It seemed fine in practice, but even then, it’s hard to say because there’s so much dirty air in practice.”
Fortunately for Logano and the No. 22 team, the car performed fairly well in the pack during Duel No. 2 and in group practice. Even though he fell short of capturing his second consecutive Daytona 500 pole in single car qualifying, Logano’s performance in a group will prove to be much more important in the race.
Joey Logano in the midst of the pack during Duel No. 2 at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
“For us, drivers are 10% of the equation when it comes to superspeedway qualifying. It’s really about the team and the prep and everything they do.”
After finishing Thursday’s Duel in fifth place, the No. 22 will line up in 10th place on Sunday. Logano carried decent speed through the following two practice sessions, posting the eighth and 12th fastest lap times in each session, respectively.
In addition to setting a competitive pace in the days leading up to Sunday’s big event, Logano is also running a special paint scheme on his Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang for this weekend only.
“I don’t know exactly what they call it, but it’s the same paint scheme that Josef Newgarden ran at the Indy 500,” Logano said to FOX8 during their Countdown to Daytona special on Friday night. “So, he’s won two in a row with this. It’s only been raced twice before this in the INDYCARs, won both times. So, the pressure is on. Keep this paint job undefeated.”
Joey Logano and the No. 22 Penske Racing Shell/Pennzoil Ford team during single car qualifying at Daytona. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
Logano knows exactly what it takes to win at Daytona. He has one Daytona 500 trophy on his shelf, along with four Duel victories. 500 miles, 40 other cars and an almost certain possibility of carnage stand between Logano and the Daytona 500 win. Fans can tune in for Sunday’s green flag at 2:00 PM EST on FOX.
