A little over two weeks ago, Joey Logano’s season was in serious need of an overhaul.
As he sat 22nd in the standings with only one top-10 finish, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion admitted it’s been the “hardest start to a season” he and his No. 22 Team Penske team have endured since his tenure began with the team in 2013.
A runner-up result last week at Richmond (Va.) Raceway was a stout “momentum-builder” for Logano.
Staying with the short-track theme in the state of Virginia this week, Logano notched a second straight top-10 result at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday as he placed sixth.
Notably, Logano led 84 laps and ran within the top 10 in every stage.
“It was a solid day. I think we got fifth or sixth place points in each stage, somewhere around there. We led a bunch of laps. We got out front, but the tire came apart at the end of that stage there, which cost us a stage win, unfortunately,” Logano said.
“We took that risk to do it and ended up in the same spot that we were going to be, so really no risk there.”
Logano noted track position was key throughout the race, stating once he lost the lead, it was difficult to pass.
“After that, we kind of lost control of the race, and once that happened, once you lost the lead, nobody was going to pass anybody,” Logano said. “The only car I saw passing was the 12 (Ryan Blaney). That was pretty impressive.
“The rest of us just followed each other all day.”
Nonetheless, Logano keeps rising in the standings as he’s not up to 14th, gaining five positions from last week.