In Part I of my 2024 championship preview, I examine Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick’s records to identify strengths and potential pitfalls to watch for at Phoenix. I’ll do the same for Ryan Blaney and William Byron in Part II.
A driver reaching the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 becomes part of an elite group of drivers. Since stage racing began in 2017, 36 different drivers have participated in the 10-race postseason competition that culminates this Sunday in Phoenix.
Only 12 drivers have experienced the high pressure of the winner-take-all championship race. Reddick will become the 13th when the green flag waves at Phoenix. In contrast to Reddick, Logano is the most experienced Championship 4 driver in the stage racing era with four appearances.
Let’s see how these two competitors measure up.
Joey Logano: Veteran driver with impeccable timing
Logano, in his 16th full Cup Series season, makes his seventh consecutive appearance in the playoffs and is back in the Championship 4 after being eliminated last year in the first round. But Logano almost didn’t make it to the Round of 8, much less the championship race.
Logano entered the playoffs ranked ninth with one race win (Nashville) and seven playoff points. In the first 26 races of the season, he had four top-five finishes (15.3%) and eight top 10s (30.8%), along with five DNFS (19.2%). It’s generally not a good sign when a driver has more DNFs than top-five finishes.
Logano’s fortune improved in the playoffs. He won Atlanta in the Round of 16, then slipped through the Round of 12 when Alex Bowman’s car was disqualified for being underweight. As if to prove he belonged, Logano won Las Vegas the very next week.
