Joey Logano had excessive expectations coming into the 2024 season.
Regardless of a first-round playoff exit in 2023, the numbers have been overwhelmingly on his facet – since NASCAR went to the playoff format in 2014, he is made the Championship 4 in each even-numbered season, bringing residence the title in 2018 and 2022.
Nevertheless, 2024 has not been the magical 12 months that Logano followers thought it had the potential to be. The No. 22 group has solely garnered three top-10 finishes on the season, and Logano presently sits 18th within the playoff standings, 30 factors exterior of the postseason image.
There may be one obtrusive ray of hope, nevertheless – brief tracks. Logano completed second at Richmond and sixth at Martinsville, and his brief monitor prowess culminated in a dominant efficiency in NASCAR’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro.
Logano led 199 of the race’s 200 laps, and whereas his victory might have been overshadowed by a post-race battle, his win might work wonders for the No. 22 group.
NASCAR’s All-Star Race would not depend for factors, so Logano’s subpar factors standing stays the identical, however along with the $1 million examine, Logano additionally obtained a a lot wanted momentum increase from Sunday’s win.
The win proves that Logano’s aforementioned runs at Richmond and Martinsville have been no fluke. If the No. group needs to win a factors race this season, brief monitor races at Richmond, Bristol and Martinsville could also be its greatest shot.
In fact, Logano all the time has an opportunity to indicate up wherever and stink up the present, however his outcomes to this point in 2024 present that the shorter ovals are the place the velocity is.
Midway by way of the NASCAR Cup Sequence common season, Logano is previous the purpose of creating excuses for his gradual begin, or crediting it to a small pattern measurement of races. At this level within the 12 months, you’re what your outcomes say you’re.
Nevertheless, one win can change all the pieces. Logano’s win within the All-Star Race might not punch his postseason ticket, nevertheless it could possibly be an enormous momentum increase for a veteran seeking to wander again into the championship fold.
