Most NASCAR Cup Series drivers would do anything for a season like Joey Logano had in 2019.
A year removed from the 2018 championship, the Middletown, Conn. native posted two victories, 12 top-five finishes and 21 top-10s, finishing fifth in the points standings.
But coming off a championship, 2019 could have been seen as a bit of a disappointment for Logano and his Team Penske crew. The goal for elite teams like the No. 22 is to be one of the four competing for the championship in the season-ending race.
Last Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway saw Logano back up his victory in this race last season by leading 60 laps en route to winning the season’s second race.
The season finale is now at Las Vegas. Can that be a harbinger of things to come? The Penske bunch certainly hopes so.
Logano turns 30 in May but has been a full-time Cup driver since 2009, when he replaced Tony Stewart in the No. 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing. He entered with much hype — and the nickname “Sliced Bread” — but through his first three seasons could only manage a rain-shorted victory at New Hampshire in his rookie year. Logano managed single wins in 2012 and 2013 before making the move that would vault him into NASCAR’s upper echelon — signing with Team Penske.
The move paid immediate dividends with five wins in 2014 and six in 2015, capturing as many poles in those two years (seven) as he had the previous five combined.
The following season saw Logano finish second to Jimmie Johnson in the playoff standings. Logano missed the playoffs and finished 17th in 2017 before his championship season in 2018.
Last Sunday was Logano’s 24th career victory and 21st with Penske. It’s early proof that Penske’s decision to shuffle crew chiefs and teams for its three drivers has worked for Logano. Now with Paul Wolfe, who won a championship with Brad Keselowski in 2012, calling the shots, there appears to be chemistry between driver and crew chief.
Ryan Blaney has the most points through two races, with Todd Gordon moving over from Logano’s team. Keselowski is a disappointing 19th with Jeremy Bullins in charge, but the team appears poised to turn those early results around.
As for Logano, the early victory means a playoff spot has already been secured. Adding to that total is the first priority, but the team can also use the coming races as preparation for seeing these tracks again come playoff-time. A second championship in three years is the ultimate goal.
BOUNTY HUNTERS: Many short tracks around the country put up “bounties” as incentives for drivers to try to take down a competitor that is racking up the victories in a particular division.
After Kyle Busch won yet another Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race last Friday at Las Vegas, Kevin Harvick took that idea national. He has put up $50,000 for any current Cup Series regular to win instead of Busch in one of his four remaining Truck Series starts this season. Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, has matched Harvick’s offer, so there is $100,000 on the line to stop Busch.
It’s easier said than done. The last Cup regular to win a Truck race with Busch in the field was Austin Dillon at New Hampshire in 2015. He is also the last Cup driver to finish ahead of Busch in a Truck race (Atlanta, 2018). Thus, NASCAR.com lists Dillon — a former Truck Series champion — as one of eight drivers that could take Harvick up on his challenge.
I like this idea, but with current rules limiting the number of races Cup drivers can start in “lower” series like Xfinity and Trucks, I doubt there will be many takers.
Busch is good at picking and choosing his races so he has the best chance at winning. His equipment is superior to the Truck Series regulars as well.
I just don’t see Busch losing to another Cup rival. A Truck regular could take him down with the right circumstances, but Busch won’t let one of his Sunday rivals make a cool 100 grand at his expense.
That doesn’t mean we can’t keep our fingers crossed that it happens.
CALIFORNIA DREAMING: Busch and Harvick are the co-favorites to win Sunday’s Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., with 5-1 odds according to Penn National Gaming. Busch is a four-time Fontana winner.
Logano is at 6-1, followed by Keselowski at 7-1 and Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. at 15-2.
Six-time California winner Jimmie Johnson sits at 16-1, which could be good odds for a darkhorse.
Of course, these odds are for entertainment purposes only, as Racin’ with Jason is not a gambling man.
Jason Remillard is a copy editor at the Greenfield Recorder. He can be reached at jremillard@recorder.com and followed on Twitter @racinwithjason.