Logano back at Martinsville aware of last year’s mistakes

Joey Logano was initially unrepentant, insistent he had done nothing wrong in a feud with Matt Kenseth that ultimately cost Logano a chance to win his first Cup championship.

A year later, Logano has a new perspective about the soap opera that fueled the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. He returns today to Martinsville Speedway with a maturity about him that could put Logano in position to win that elusive title.

“I learned some valuable lessons last year,” Logano said. “I learned a whole new level I didn’t even know I had. Now I know how to reach that level mentally inside a racecar to make things happen and be a great leader for my team.”

Logano was en route to NASCAR’s championship race last year as perhaps the driver to beat for the title.

Then Kenseth intentionally wrecked Logano as payback for a spat that started during the second round of the playoffs.

That’s all in the past as the third round of the playoffs begins, and Logano and Kenseth are both still in play.