NASCAR: ‘Great kid’ Logano drives away in style with first season crown
HOMESTEAD, FLA.— Joey Logano busted up The Big Three and captured an improbable first NASCAR title by soundly beating a trio of champions.
Logano won the season finale Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway to grab his first Cup championship in a season in which he barely contended until the playoffs began. The year was dominated by Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr., with Logano calling the final-four field “The Big Three and Me.”
But Logano kicked it into another gear during the playoffs with two victories and got eight top-10 finishes in the postseason. He led a race-high 80 laps but the title was slipping away until Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski spun Busch teammate Daniel Suarez for a race-changing caution.
He was fourth on the restart with 15 laps remaining but powered his way alongside leader Truex, used a power move in the outside lane three laps later to take over the top spot and he pulled away to win for Roger Penske.
“We were the favourite. We executed down the stretch like nobody’s business,” Logano said. “I knew we had a short-run car. I said it before the race started that if it was anything longer than 25 laps we were going to be in trouble. That showed all day. But it came down to the short run and we are champions. NASCAR champions.”
Logano won the title in his 10th season in NASCAR and with his second team. He started with Joe Gibbs Racing as a teenager, was pushed into the Cup Series prematurely when Gibbs needed a replacement driver for Tony Stewart, and was snagged by Penske when Gibbs let Logano go after the 2012 season.
“I think it’s great for them and Joey,” Gibbs said. “Great kid, great family. I’m sure he’s going to make a great champion.”
He is the second Cup champion for Penske, the titan of motorsports who has had a banner year. Penske also this season was elected into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, won the Indianapolis 500 for a record 17th time and celebrated Team Penske’s 500th victory.