Joey Logano delivered the performance of a true champion to win the NASCAR Cup Series finale at the Phoenix Raceway.
He may have the lowest average finish of any champion in series history, but he displayed a fine showing of turning up when it matters most.
A display of tactile car placement enabled him to fend off a late charge from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and pick up his third crown.
His rivals never quite seemed as settled as he did across the weekend in the desert, with his experience in championship situations coming in handy and helping to deliver the goods.
William Byron and Tyler Reddick can’t ‘motivate themselves’ like Joey Logano
Both William Byron and Tyler Reddick were considered to be serious contenders for the 2024 Cup Series championship heading into the final round.
In fact, Byron was the most inform driver on the grid, with six consecutive top-six finishes, but no victories in that span.
Speaking on the Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick stated that he believes Byron and Reddick are unable to motivate themselves to the level that Logano can.
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“I was not surprised, I think that all four of these guys are capable of showing up with something that could be dominant. But when the #45 was a 10th-place car, it didn’t surprise me.
“It’s kind of the same as the William Byron argument. How can Tyler Reddick perform at the level that he was at at Homestead? How can William Byron perform at the level that he was at when he was winning races at the beginning of the year?
“In my opinion, these guys and these teams can’t dot the I’s and cross the T’s and motivate themselves like Joey Logano.”
Logano proves he’s one of the best
The modern championship format began in 2014, with the points system adjusted in 2017, and in that time, Logano has been the most successful driver.
He will look back on his 2013 move to Penske as one of the best decisions of his career – enabling him to take off and enjoy lots of success.
He’s one of just 10 drivers who have won three or more Cup Series titles, and he’s done it all in one of the trickiest formats to do so.
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His ride to earning a third title in four seasons in 2025 will toughen, with the likes of Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson hungry to avenge playoff eliminations.
But at the age of 34, Logano knows exactly how to fend off a challenge when it is placed in front of him, and he will come back stronger than ever.