Joey Logano, three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion

Joey Logano was crowned the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Champion for the third time at Phoenix Raceway after a decisive restart on lap 259 of 312. Starting from sixth position, Logano overtook competitors such as Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and William Byron to take the lead, finishing with a 0.330-second margin over Blaney, his teammate.

This triumph at Phoenix represents Logano’s fourth victory at the track, as well as his fourth win of the season and the 36th of his career. With this championship, he matches legendary figures such as Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, and Tony Stewart, all members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Only four drivers have more titles: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jimmie Johnson with seven each, and Jeff Gordon with four.

Team Penske's Dominance in the NASCAR Cup

For team owner Roger Penske, this title marks the third consecutive, with Logano winning in 2022 and Ryan Blaney in 2023. During the race, Logano highlighted the strength of his team, which had to deal with setbacks on pit road, including the replacement of jackman Graham Stoddard, who was substituted by Patrick Gray from Austin Cindric’s crew.

Despite the challenges, Logano stayed in front after the final restart, assisted by his spotter Coleman Pressley, who provided crucial information to keep Ryan Blaney at bay. While Blaney closed the gap to 0.167 seconds in the final laps, he could not overtake Logano.

William Byron, also a title contender, finished third, followed by Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. Tyler Reddick ended in sixth place without posing a real threat for victory. Blaney, who restarted fourth after the final restart, managed to overtake Byron on lap 290 but did not have the chance to challenge Logano for the lead.

Logano's Comeback After Playoff Elimination

Joey Logano’s path to this championship was far from straightforward. He was eliminated from the NASCAR Playoffs following the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course but earned a second chance after Alex Bowman’s Chevrolet was disqualified for not meeting minimum weight. Logano seized this opportunity, securing his spot in the Championship 4 with a victory in Las Vegas the following week.

Final Moments of the 2024 Season

Martin Truex Jr., who earned the pole position, finished 17th in his final race as a full-time driver. Stewart-Haas Racing closed its chapter in the series with Noah Gragson, who placed 12th as their highest finisher. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch’s streak of 19 consecutive years with at least one NASCAR Cup victory ended as he finished 21st.

Pace Car Incident and Pit Road Challenges

The race also featured a curious incident when the pace car skidded into the sand barrels at the entrance of pit road, causing a five-minute, 47-second red flag period for cleanup. At the end of the race, Logano was momentarily disoriented while searching for his team, who were running from their pit stall located on the backstretch.