Logano admits "we have to take big steps to catch" Toyota

Logano, who is currently 14th in the Monster Energy Cup Series standings, was looking for any kind of an edge he can glean — especially with two races remaining to decide the grid for the 2017 playoffs. 

Getting more track time

While he fell just short — .185-seconds — of Denny Hamlin for the win, Logano hopes the knowledge he picked up over 200-miles of competition will prove invaluable for Sunday.

“I chose to run Darlington,” Logano told Motorsport.com. “Between Blaney, Brad and myself we fight for Darlington every year. We all want to run this race, mainly because we only come here once a year and that comfort feeling…getting that comfort feeling running up top. The more laps you run, the more comfortable you get and understanding what lines move on restarts and where you want to be.  

“As the track changed, we talk about this place kind of being a one-groove race track, but it’s widened out. Even one and two has widened out that you can run a couple different lanes through there.”

NASCAR provided the Cup teams with two 85-minute practiced on Friday afternoon. The teams qualified on Saturday prior to the NXS race. Logano rolls off eighth for the Southern 500. But nothing can replace actual racing conditions to prepare for Sunday.

“For the most part, refresh your memory because it’s been a year since we’ve been here, so I feel it’s definitely an advantage to run this one,” Logano said. “Some race tracks maybe not as much and for some people maybe it’s not an advantage to run this race, but, for me, I feel like it helps get me a little more comfortable on this odd-shaped track that we don’t come to much.”

Logano won at Richmond Raceway in April but NASCAR deemed the finish encumbered. He’s currently fifth in points among drivers without wins and would need a victory at Darlington or Richmond to transfer to the post-season. 

Logano attempted to escape his playoff dilemma earlier in the week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kurt Busch challenged Logano to a race on the new roval for an upcoming episode of Discovery Channel's Fast N' Loud. Logano chose a Factory Five Shelby Daytona Coupe for the event.

“It’s nice to come here and just play around with cool cars,” Logano said. “We’re racing. We’re having fun, but there’s no points on the line. It’s not your living. You’re just out here with cool cars having fun.

“I’m able to take it off of my mind a moment at a time. It’s hard not to, right?. You have two races to win — and you have to win. That same stress or pressure you feel when you’re in the playoffs has escalated over the past month and as the races approach.”

Tough 2017

Since moving from Joe Gibbs Racing to Team Penske in 2013, Logano’s Cup career has blossomed. He’s won at least one race every year — 16 overall — and never finished worse than eighth in the standings. But the No. 22 team which appeared to be a strong title contender at the start of the season, has slid from fifth after Richmond to 14th fifteen races later.

“So we’re going through a little bit of a downturn right now,” Logano said. “It’s obvious. And it’s something as a team that maybe we haven’t gone through together but we’ve all gone through it individually before — and we’ve all, obviously, come out of it. These are the moments that, I’ve got to believe, that, God is training you for something bigger.

“These are the moments that are a true test of your character and who you are, the way you handle these situations, internally, in your team. And it’s time to step up and be a leader. Is this the easiest time? No. I like to think of the team as the driver is the quarterback and the crew chief is the coach and we do it together. Neither one calls the plays by himself — at least on our team. We do this together. We’re in this together.” 

Taking on Toyota

Logano believes the team — and the organization — needs to rethink its strategy in order to compete against the Toyotas down the stretch. 

“We’ve communicated a lot lately — going over things — because let’s face it, the things that we’ve done in the past to be successful is not working,” Logano said. “So you kind of have to understand what’s going on. Take a step back and reevaluate. We have to go back through things to find speed in our cars — and just in general, find speed in the car. We have to find  balance but we all have to find speed compared to the Toyotas. Let’s be honest. Those are the fastest cars right now every single week. 

“Obviously, we have to take big steps to catch them. Not to say we can’t catch them, we will catch them. Racing goes in cycles, it always does. It’s just a matter of weathering the storm and staying together as a team. I feel confident that we will get through this.”