Joey Logano was eliminated from the Cup Series playoffs Sunday night at the Charlotte Roval, but only for a couple of hours. Once NASCAR disqualified Alex Bowman, Logano was put back into championship contention.
This was a quick turnaround, but it did not change the two-time champion's mindset.
"The energy doesn't change," Logano said Wednesday. "We're still going out there to maximize the day and win it if we can. That's the goal, so I can't say it changed much.
"Did it bring some excitement that this piece of it is still there? Yeah, absolutely. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that way, but it doesn't change much from the way it affects us as a race team."
On to the “Round of 8” #NASCARPlayoffs #22Crew pic.twitter.com/JcXuXy4tND
— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) October 15, 2024
One reason why Logano and Team Penske never packed it up is experience. This team has been in the playoffs numerous times, and it has dealt with highs and lows alike. Getting eliminated after an intense race was nothing too out of the ordinary.
The other reason why the mindset didn't change is that only Logano was initially eliminated from the playoffs. The No. 22 Team Penske Ford had moved on to the Round of 8 of the owner's championship.
The driver's championship battle draws all of the attention and factors significantly into a Hall of Fame resume. The owner's championship matters far more from a financial standpoint.
"We still had that that we needed to continue to fight for, so the goal doesn't change, the strategy wouldn't have changed," Logano said.
"Nothing changes in our minds because that owner's piece of this whole thing is ultra important. That's where the money is at. We don't talk about it much, but it's important, so we wouldn't have changed our mindset one bit."
Logano already planned on winning more races before the end of the season and putting the No. 22 Ford in the owner's Championship 4.
Now, however, he has a second chance. He is back in the playoffs with an opportunity to lock up a spot in the Championship 4 for the sixth time since the elimination format began in 2014.
He can achieve that goal by winning at three tracks where he has previous trips to victory lane or by pointing his way in. If he can check this box, he will be one step closer to his third Cup title.
So how does he approach the next three races after NASCAR threw him a lifeline?
"The same way we would have if we'd made it any other way," Logano said. "You go out there and you attack."
