Joey Logano crossed the line in eighth position after a heroic effort at the Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Roval 400.
But, it wasn’t enough for him to make the NASCAR playoffs, having missed out on the top eight by a matter of four points.
He carved through the field, earning the third most stage points and putting himself in a far better position than many imagined he would end up in.
That hard work all paid off in the end, as Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman in the #48 car was disqualified after the race for being underweight.
Joey Logano ‘proud’ of Charlotte Roval 400 fightback
It has been confirmed that there will be no appeal against the disqualification of the #48 car, meaning that Logano is in the fight for the championship still.
The Round of 8 begins this weekend, but reflecting on his terrific Charlotte comeback with the NASCAR website, the American driver lauded his performance and ability to stay in the fight.
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“I mean, there’s a lot to be proud of,” he said. “You know, we came here with our back up against the wall needing to score a lot of points.
“And you think about the stages and then cycling yourself into kind of a tough spot. No matter how you call the race, you put yourself in a spot where you’re going to be at a disadvantage on tires or be way back in the pack.
“We were at one point, and I was able to kind of manage and I think we’re what second and third in the stages. So we did good with that.”
What are Logano’s odds of title glory?
Logano currently trails championship leader Kyle Larson by 40 points, but his initial focus won’t be chasing down his American rival.
It’ll be making the final four and the championship race – where he can then focus his efforts on claiming the top spot.
The gap to fourth place currently sits at just 11 points, meaning that the complexion of the top eight could change within laps of any race.
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Sunday’s South Point 400 is a vital race for those who intend to close the gap to Larson out front or risk letting the silverware get away altogether.
He’s already won twice the amount of races of anyone else this season, and if he is allowed to win two more, he will probably claim his second title in four years.