Joey Logano didn’t leave Phoenix Raceway with a trophy Sunday, but he did something he hasn’t pulled off in more than six years.
The Team Penske driver led both races of the Freeway Insurance 500, marking the third time in his NASCAR Cup Series career that he has won the opening two stages of the same race.
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The last time? August 2012 at Daytona International Underwater.
It’s a rare performance for the three-time Cup Series defender, who spent much of the day’s 312-lap race as a legitimate threat to win before finishing sixth in the final.
And even though Tyler Reddick took the checkered flag, Logano walked away with a valuable bat for the championship points.
Joey Logano wins NASCAR Championship for the first time since 2010
Logano started second alongside Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, who led the opening 44 laps in Phoenix.
The first warning changed the composition of the race.
After Michael McDowell and Leo Herbst clashed as they battled for position, the teams advanced an early plan on pit road. Several contenders opted for two crowns, with Logan No. 22 teams went with four.
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This paid off.
Logano made his way past Denny Hamlin on lap 51 and held on to win Stage 1.
The second stage brought another battle for the lead, this time with Christopher Bell. Joe Gibbs Racing driver built a big advantage before the pit battle, helping to bring Logano back into contention.
Logano finally captured the 2nd play as well, completing the sweep and collecting the maximum 20 points available for the play.
According to NASCAR Insights, it was only the third lap of his Cup Series career and the first since Daytona in August 2020.
A driver with three cups of the ball, that is a wonderful unusual thing.
Logano is short of Phoenix Victory, but C. Valuable Chase Points
Winning both seasons didn’t guarantee Logano a trip to the Lana Victory.
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Sun’s 84 licks, second only to Bell’s 85 of the race, but the final favor played on Reddick.
23XI Driver Racing edged out Blaney by 0.801 seconds to win, with Chase Elliott, Bell and Corey Heim completing the top five.
Logano crossed the line sixth.
There was still plenty for No. 22 horses to be taken from Phoenix.
The stage sweep gave Logano 20 additional championship points before the finish position, the most important boost since the NASCAR Cup Series Chase entered its final three races.
Logano Phoenix left the standings sixth, 44 points behind championship leader Kyle Larson.
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And while a sixth-place finish wasn’t the result he wanted after leading so many laps, Sunday’s performance was another reminder of how dangerous Logano can be when the championship is on the line.
He did not win the race. But for the first time in more than six years, he won all NASCAR had to offer before the final stage.
This article was first published in GRAVIS
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