Joey Logano clinched his third NASCAR Cup Series championship, marking a historic victory at Phoenix Raceway. The 34-year-old Connecticut native held off his Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney in a nail-biting finish, crossing the line just 0.330 seconds ahead of Blaney after a fierce battle over the final 20 laps.
Logano’s win added to his legacy, making him the 10th driver in NASCAR history to secure three or more championships. His triumph broke a tie with Kyle Busch as the only active driver with multiple titles, solidifying his place among the sport's elite drivers.
"I love the playoffs, I love it man," Logano said after his victory. "What a team, what a Penske battle there at the end. Three of them? That's truly special."
Penske's historic 1-2 finish
This championship marks the first time in Team Penske’s storied history that the organization finished first and second in the Cup Series standings. Logano’s victory capped off a remarkable month for the Penske family, as Roger Penske’s sports car team claimed the IMSA title last month and his World Endurance Championship team clinched the title in Bahrain just days prior.
Blaney, who was hoping to become the first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson’s five consecutive titles from 2006-2010, expressed pride in finishing second to his teammate, acknowledging the strength of the Penske operation.
“At least a Penske car won it,” Blaney said, visibly tired but satisfied with the outcome. “They put together a great playoffs, and we’re happy. If we’re going to race somebody, I’m happy it was him for the championship, and happy to be 1-2 for Roger, three in a row for Roger, super amazing, and Ford.”
Team Penske and Ford dominate
The win marks a third consecutive Cup Series championship for Team Penske and Ford, following Logano’s 2022 victory and Blaney’s 2023 title. Logano, however, gave credit to his team’s strength and preparation for his success.
“One-two for Team Penske, three championships in a row, can't be more proud of this team,” Logano said. “I don’t know if I’m the best driver but I’ve got the best team. And together, we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most.”
Playoff drama and controversy
Logano’s journey to the final four was marked by controversy after he was initially eliminated from the playoffs in the second round. However, a post-race inspection failure by Alex Bowman at Charlotte allowed Logano to be reinstated, putting him back into contention for the title. From there, he dominated the playoffs, winning at Las Vegas to lock in his spot for the championship race.
“Our team is better under pressure,” Logano explained. “The race started in Vegas for us. The amount of work and effort that went into building this race car right here, the amount of time, I don’t think anyone works harder than us. We were up at 6 in the morning this morning going over stuff. The guys just want it bad and I’m glad we delivered."
Byron and Reddick round out Championship contenders
William Byron, who made his second consecutive appearance in the championship finale, finished third in the race, while Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing, owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan, finished sixth. Reddick, who had been relatively quiet throughout the week, didn’t lead a lap and faced challenges throughout the race, but praised his team’s performance.
"Michael was just proud of the effort of our team all year long," Reddick said. “Put up a good fight. We didn’t make any mistakes that took ourselves out of it. We fought as hard as we could.”
As the championship race concluded, the four title contenders finished in the top six. Logano’s dominance in the race, where he led 107 laps, left no doubt about his performance under pressure. With this victory, Joey Logano secured his place as one of NASCAR's best, while Team Penske continued its remarkable run of success across multiple motorsports disciplines.
