Joey Logano spills the beans on secret behind Team Penske’s playoff success

Penske claimed a 1-2 finish in the driver's standings in the Cup Series, urging Joey Logano to explain the reason behind the team's success.

Joey Logano spills the beans on secret behind Team Penske’s playoff success

Joey Logano (Via IMAGO)

While NASCAR is a spec-series for most part, Penske drivers have recently dominated the sport. With Joey Logano winning the Cup Series championship and Ryan Blaney finishing a close runner-up, the 34-year-old dwelled deeper into the secret reason behind why Penske drivers have had great success in recent years.

Since the 2010s, Penske drivers have won five Cup Series titles in the NASCAR field. Even with the introduction of the knockout playoff format in 2014, its drivers have often capitalised when the stakes are the highest. On the other hand, this year’s championship was won by Joey Logano, who had a nail-biting fight in the last few laps against his teammate Ryan Blaney, who finished a mere few tenths behind him.

Though both Blaney and Logano did not have great results backing them up for the race in Phoenix, the Penske pair took the fight to the other finalists when it mattered the most and were clear of the field on most occasions in Phoenix. This urged the No.22 driver to assert how Penske drivers are better able to adapt to the psychological pressure of playoffs, which helps them remain ahead of the field.

It’s not the parts and pieces of the cars, they’re all the same. There’s not like you’re gaining an advantage there. It’s people who put the cars together. It’s little details that matter. It’s the pressure of the playoffs. I think that’s maybe the biggest thing.

Joey Logano said

On the contrary, people have called out the current playoff system as the reason behind Logano’s triumph. Despite such chatter, he has discarded such claims and is happy being a three-time Cup Series champion.

Joey Logano sided the blame on Denny Hamlin for the controversial playoff system

However, the Penske driver did not go down without a fight in such allegations. He named Denny Hamlin as a key supporter of the current playoff system when the format was in its formulation stage and called his actions hypocritical as the 43-year-old questioned the playoff format.

Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano
Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano (Via IMAGO)

Regardless of his intentions, Logano’s jibe has not had a massive impact on Hamlin’s stance. The JGR driver has called the current system delegitimizing the regular season in his recent statements, and would continue to take on the feud with NASCAR for the time being.

If I remember correctly and I’m 90 percent sure, I was in the meetings when all this was being hashed out, Denny Hamlin was one of the people in that room. For sure he was in one of those rooms, and I’m not 100 percent sure but I think this was his idea or it was that he was definitely for it.

Joey Logano said

Apart from this, the reigning champion would use the winter break to enjoy his vacation and come back next year full of energy. He would be aiming to defend his throne amidst the growing stature of the rising stars in the NASCAR field.