Roger Penske’s Insider Dissects Massive Phoenix Switch That Ultimately Handed Joey Logano the Championship Crown
For those wondering otherwise, Joey Logano’s third championship was not a lucky break. Sure, his path to the title might have been a little sketchy. But there’s no denying the amount of preparation and strategic planning it took for the #22 team to get so far was unfathomable.
Theirs was a battle of relentless attrition, fought carefully throughout an entire season. And it wasn’t just the #22. All three Team Penske cars worked like clockwork to make their way into the 2024 NASCAR Playoffs. That speaks volumes about the levels of coordination they displayed en route to capping off a stellar year for Roger Penske. But the most glistening example of their unity wouldn’t come until the final, pressure-packed moment. In fairness, Joey Logano probably would not have lifted his third championship if an unlikely savior had not stepped in for an ailing crewmate.
After the #22 Ford finished first in Stage 1, something felt off when Joey Logano rolled the car into his designated pit stall. He lost four spots after service during the ensuing stage break, but a much bigger issue was plaguing their brigade. Turned out, the delay wasn’t a mistake. Instead, the #22 team jackman, Graham Stoddard, appeared to be battling an undisclosed illness that put them on the back foot.
