Logano Relishes Early Ticket to Phoenix, Focuses on Perfecting Title Run

Joey Logano practices at Homestead-Miami Speedway Saturday. (Photo: Greg Engle, CupScene.com)
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Joey Logano’s victory in last week’s Round of 8 Playoff opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earned him the first automatic bid into the Nov. 10 Championship Four at Phoenix Raceway. The two-time series champion said his No. 22 Team Penske team has absolutely seized the advantage of the extra two weeks to prepare for the championship race – both competitively and psychologically.

“There’s no doubt after you’ve done something once, you’re gonna be better the second time, right” Logano says of his sixth appearance in the Championship foursome. “We talked about what the week is like leading into it, and all the other things you have to do, all the distractions, all the stress that’s there. It’s a hard week, there’s no doubt.

“I laugh all the time because so many drivers, in all three series, a lot of their answer is, ‘we just treat it as another race, it’s just another race’. BS, it’s not another race. Not even close, it’s the championship, it’s the biggest race you’ll ever be a part of. It’s bigger than that. Everyone tries to minimize it so they can sleep better at night. It’s not about that.

“And I think for some drivers and teams, they love that pressure and I think there’s some that just hate it and it affects them in a negative way. It probably depends on who you are, but I know going through things more than once definitely helps you know how to prepare for what’s coming your way.”

Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service
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