NASCAR insider proclaims Joey Logano has inherited Kevin Harvick’s iconic nickname

Senior NASCAR Journalist Jordan Bianchi gives the perfect explanation of Joey Logano’s racing result pattern over the years.

NASCAR insider proclaims Joey Logano has inherited Kevin Harvick’s iconic nickname

Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano (via IMAGO)

Team Penske Racing’s Joey Logano has been the most successful driver in the Next-Gen era. He won two of three championships since 2022 and has always been a factor in all the races, even on days where he wasn’t the fastest on the car. He seems to race more like 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick, who retired from the sport in 2023.

Kevin Harvick earned the iconic nickname, “The Closer” as he was known for not leading many laps or running at the front row in the races he wins. The veteran gets to the front when it matters the most, the final laps of the race. Joey Logano is doing exactly the same, as he finds ways to get upfront in a tough time to get back on the victory lane.

Senior NASCAR journalist Jordan Bianchi in the latest episode of The Teardown podcast, produced by Dirty Mo Media of Dale Earnhardt Jr., discussed this factor of Joey Logano’s racing. He believes with Harvick retired, Logano has earned the nickname, The Closer, though he is a new and slightly different version of it.  

Kevin Harvick is retired now. We need to take that ‘closer’ nickname that he had, and we should just give it to Joey Logano. Like, Logano is the new version of the ‘closer.’ Hands down, that is just what he does.

Jordan Bianchi said via The Teardown Podcast.

Further talking on the point, Bianchi asserted that other than on Superspeedways, Joey Logano only lead limited number of laps. But still, he is able to put himself in situation where he can secure a win with the right execution. So, the race fans should bestow “The Closer” nickname on the future Hall of Famer.

He doesn’t lead a bunch of laps in races anymore outside of superspeedways, but he just puts himself in position and if he’s got a shot to win, he closes it out. So, we should bestow him with that nickname.

Jordan Bianchi added.

Is Joey Logano the best NASCAR driver in the Next-Gen era?

Well, other than the championship dominance, he hasn’t been the best among the current front runners. Kyle Larson, William Byron and Christopher Bell has been the most consistent as well as the winningest racers in the new era.

Joey Logano
Joey Logano (Via @joey-logano/X)

But according to Rubbin Is Racing podcast host Dave Portnoy aka Large, the No:22 Ford driver has been the best among his peers. He admitted that Logano can’t be considered the best driver overall, but is without a doubt is the best Cup Series driver at the moment.

Joey Logano is the best driver right now for the Cup Series… Name me a better one right now. I don’t mean the best driver overall, I mean the best Cup Series driver right now is Joey Logano. In the current NASCAR Power Rankings, they have him at 10th. This guy has won two (championships) out of the last three… I don’t know what else this guy has to do to climb up those rankings.

Large said via Rubbin Is Racing.

The arguments from Dave Portnoy about Joey Logano seems to be on point, and NASCAR needs to put the veteran higher on the Power Ranking. His clutch performance and ability to deliver when it matters the most should reward and shouldn’t be attributed to just luck.

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