Joey Logano has been hit with a penalty ahead of the Championship 4 race from Phoenix, where he is bidding to become a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
The American’s car failed inspections twice before qualifying and therefore has lost his ability to choose his pit stall.
He will be thankful that he went on to endure the best Saturday of any of his rivals, with a really solid performance.
It means that he will line up second for Sunday’s race, only behind the retiring Martin Truex Jr, who picked up his second pole in a row.
Joey Logano faces Phoenix Championship 4 ‘challenge’
The Championship 4 race is a bit of an all-or-nothing affair, but it’s best to start as high up in the field as possible.
His nearest rival – William Byron, is starting from eighth, giving him some breathing room before coming under pressure.
Speaking after qualifying, Team Penske’s performance director, Travis Geisler told the NASCAR website that the penalty may not be much of a disadvantage.
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“I think it can be a challenge or it cannot be,” Geisler said. “It just depends on how all that works out, as far as who ends up around you.
“I think that, typically, when you get down to it, guys work together pretty well on pit road. We have really long stalls here, so it’s one of the easier places to have to get in and out.
“Somewhere like Martinsville, it’s a lot tougher issue. But I think here we can make do with wherever we end up.”
Who is the favourite to win the championship now?
Based on form alone coming into the last race of the season, Byron appears to be performing at the greatest level.
He’s finished inside the top six in each of his last six races and looks set to do the same this Sunday as well.
Logano is the most experienced of all the drivers in a championship-winning situation and knows exactly what it takes to come out on top.
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Reigning champion Ryan Blaney would be one of the top picks if he wasn’t starting from down in 17th place.
Finally, Tyler Reddick is no rookie either and will be a threat starting from 10th on Sunday, gunning for a first title.