On the final lap of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at a sold-out Phoenix Raceway, teammates faced off for the title.
Joey Logano vs. Ryan Blaney.
Logano held off the defending champion by 0.330 seconds for his third career Bill France Cup, continuing his even-year magic. He claimed his previous titles in 2018 and ‘22.
“I love the playoffs,” Logano said, as reported by NASCAR.com. “I love it, man. What a race! What a Team Penske battle there at the end.
Logano became the ninth Cup driver to claim at least three titles, joining Dale Earnhardt (7), Jimmie Johnson (7), Richard Petty (7), Jeff Gordon (4), David Pearson (3), Lee Petty (3), Tony Stewart (3), Cale Yarborough (3) and Darrell Waltrip (3).
The No. 22 Ford team executed the feat by overcoming an odd twist. A jackman on the pit crew fell ill and was replaced by a member of Austin Cindric’s team.
Logano didn’t squander his second opportunity. At the close of the Round of 12, Logano was eliminated, but was given new life when Alex Bowman was disqualified. The Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 Chevrolet failed post-race inspections.
Despite enduring a season in which he recorded his lowest average finish since 2013, Logano qualified for the postseason by winning a five-overtime race at Nashville Superspeedway. His team’s highlight, before Sunday, was the Round of 8 Las Vegas Motor Speedway victory. Logano and Co. Engineered a 68-lap fuel run to advance to the final four.
With Sunday’s effort, Logano ensured his career will end as a Hall of Famer.
X (Twitter) users responded to Logano celebrating his trio of titles …
NASCAR President Steve Phelps presents the Bill France Cup to our 2024 Champion, @joeylogano. pic.twitter.com/zEjbo6LhX2
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 11, 2024
Before taking the trophy stage, Logano staged his own crowd-pleasing moment …
LET ‘EM HEAR YOU, JOEY! pic.twitter.com/7Z56wNQdQA
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 11, 2024
Martin Truex Jr., the retiring former champion, received a pre-race tribute …
2017 NASCAR champion. 34 Cup Series wins. Today will mark 693 Cup starts. Thank you for the memories, MTJ. pic.twitter.com/F5GvtJEqni
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 10, 2024
Michael McDowell took time to bid farewell before his last race piloting the No. 34 Ford. Next season, the former Daytona 500 champ will drive the No. 71 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports …
.@Mc_Driver calls this weekend bittersweet closing the @Team_FRM chapter of his career.
“They changed my life and made me relevant in #NASCAR” pic.twitter.com/fOA0vBIfHl
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) November 9, 2024
The Cup Series’ final opening green flag of the season …
THE NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP RACE IS UNDERWAY! AND A HUGE CRASH FOR TY GIBBS!@AlwaysRaceDay pic.twitter.com/QcDtMLGyu9
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) November 10, 2024
Two laps into the final, Ty Gibbs, the 2023 rookie of the year, slammed into the wall …
TY GIBBS HITS THE WALL!
We have action in Phoenix on lap 2. 😳 pic.twitter.com/WYRnoYvWRc
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 10, 2024
The final four was grouped tight. Logano jumped to a quick lead by capturing Stage 1, while Byron earned a P4, Blaney P6 and Reddick P7 …
Took the lead on Lap 10.
Hasn’t looked back. #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/NtrR0gUpM2
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
An eventful pit stop. With Logano enduring a slow stop on Lap 63 because of trouble changing the right front tire, Chase Elliott claimed the lead off of pit road. Logano fell back to P5. Meanwhile, Corey LaJoie was caught speeding …
Trouble on pit road causes the No. 22 to lose four valuable spots following Stage 1. #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/wqWCsPxSS0
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
WTF! The pace car hit the barrels? …
HAVE YOU EVER!?
The pace car just CRASHED into the sand barrels at the entrance of pit road!
The red flag is out.#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/r8EgAnhPSQ
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) November 10, 2024
After a round of pit stops beginning on Lap 111, Bell, who pitted seven rotations later, worked his way back to the lead on Lap 127. Meanwhile, Blaney emerged in third place to gain an advantage, but not long-term …
Following a busy restart, @Blaney has settled into third and leads all #Championship4 drivers in Stage 2. @CBellRacing holds the top spot. pic.twitter.com/uyd4m4wATz
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
Logano passed Byron for P3 on Lap 153, setting the stage for a championship run …
One of the fastest cars on the track now is @joeylogano!
He drives past @WilliamByron and sets his sights on @Blaney in Stage 2! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/jIXGfigWdU
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
Blaney passed Bell for the lead on Lap 178, survived a side-by-side battle three rotations later and captured Stage 2 …
.@Blaney knows he has to go if he's going to catch @joeylogano! pic.twitter.com/5llFVFQGAK
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
Logano passed Blaney for P2 on Lap 201. Over the next 30 laps Blaney attempted to position himself to regain the advantage, but the eventual champ maintained the lead …
THE GAP IS ONE SECOND! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/PJm2n2ROrP
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
Zane Smtih crashed from P28 on Lap 250, which reshuffled the Stage 3 deck …
A problem for the No. 71 of @ZaneSmith brings out the yellow on Lap 250. pic.twitter.com/aqWAIMZtqy
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
On the restart, Byron led the field with Logano P5, Blaney P6 and Reddick P8 and survived a three-wide situation with Bell and Logano. On Lap 260, Logano overtook the field and pulled away …
THE NO. 22 WITH A HUGE MOVE TO TAKE THE LEAD! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/MDvDlQhY3W
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
The final lap. Blaney went high for a “final shot at it,” but Logano proved what he heard over his team radio: “There’s nobody better … nobody” …
Blaney makes a charge, but it's not enough! @joeylogano is the champion in 2024! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/HHFZV7GfkG
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
For Logano, Sunday’s win was his 36th career win, tying him with Brad Keselowski for No. 24 on the all-time list. The future Hall of Famer led the final 53 laps, claiming his fourth trip to Victory Lane this season …
THE LEGEND OF LOGANO GROWS!@joeylogano is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion! pic.twitter.com/THSUyNfYZ1
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024
