By Luis Torres, Staff Writer/Photographer
Team Penske is in a vulnerable position that could jeopardize its championship dominance heading into Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Not scoring a victory is unacceptable for Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, who are 38 and 47 points below the cutoff line respectively, but it will also dash the team’s chance at a four-peat.
But if there are two racers who have stepped up to the occasion when a title is on the line, Logano and Blaney have proven it multiple times. It’s why Penske have won the last three straight NASCAR Cup Series championships.
However, they are aware all they can do is control what can be controlled throughout the 500-lap saga.
A win is at stake and for Logano, who’s looking to make his seventh Championship 4 and the first in an odd-numbered year, Sunday is championship week. Not next Sunday’s finale at Phoenix, but Martinsville based on the pressure the No. 22 team are dealing.
Above all else, he can’t treat Sunday as a normal week and it’s never been treated as such when a title opportunity is on the line.
“It’s kind of hard to treat that like a normal week. I said this last year and I’ll say it forever, if you say it’s a normal week, it’s just a way to help you sleep because you can’t sleep,” Logano explained during Saturday’s media availability.
“The facts are you know it inside. Everybody knows it inside. It’s more. The pressure is on. It’s bigger. You’re closer to reaching the dream. What are you willing to do? Everything is just a little more.”
Blaney, who is vying for a third straight fall Martinsville victory, can’t reflect back on what’s set them back in the Round of 8.
Most notably, the flat tire at Las Vegas two weeks ago resulting in a last-place result and the catalyst of being below the cutoff line.
What can be done is give it all their best, including his No. 12 team and hope the ideal outcome is making his third straight Championship 4 appearance.
“We know what we have to do and just go try to be 100 percent of what this 12 group can be, and I’d say that’s all I’ve ever asked of people in our group is just give your best effort through the week, through the weekend,” Blaney commented.
“Just put up all of yourself and if it’s enough, that’s awesome, and we were able to do it. If not, at least you did everything you could and nothing was left on the table, and you hold your heads high, win or lose.
“That’s just the way I approach it. That’s the way this whole group approaches it and you just give it your all no matter the outcome,” Blaney continued.
“One outcome is obviously better than the other, but if you gave everything you had, you can still be proud of your effort. It’s pretty easy to get in these modes.
“It’s just a weekend where you have to go perform. We perform every weekend and it’s just how good can you perform compared to others this weekend, so I guess that’s how we approach this week leading up to this event.”
Anything can happen at the 0.526-mile paperclip shaped oval with Logano being synonymous in moments involving him on both sides.
Instances such as his 2018 victory over Martin Truex, Jr., which kickstarted his quest to his first of three Cup titles. Then there’s much talked about wreck where Matt Kenseth retaliated against him in 2015 that curb stomped his title hopes.
In many ways, Martinsville is a crapshoot race but those instances happen late in the race. Therefore, Logano doesn’t see chaos going down in the opening 50 laps, so the motive goes back to winning the race and focusing on himself.
“It’s been a good track for us. There’s no doubt it’s been a good track,” said Logano.” I look at anybody in the position that we’re in right now, those bottom four cars, everyone’s got to win and everyone has done it here.
“That’s the crazy part is everybody is good here and that’s what it is. You get to this round of the playoffs and everybody is good. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what it’s supposed to be.
“You have the most solid teams in the Round of 8 and it’s a heavyweight fight right to the end here. You have a bunch of dogs out there trying to make it happen. It’s gonna be an exciting race. It’s gonna be something to watch, that’s for sure.”
Confidence will once again be key for Blaney and the No. 12 team. Not because of the opportunity of once again representing Team Penske in the title fight but being the competition’s kryptonite.
“When we were able to win this race in ‘23, we carried a bunch of confidence over that week. I felt like we were in a great mindset and doing it last year,” said Blaney. “I feel like we had the same mindset of I’m a big believer in momentum and confidence and things like that, and it can change your outlook on things. It’s just how you open your eyes in the morning.
“If you’re confident, it changes your outlook on the day ahead of you. It was definitely a big factor in us winning in ‘23. It was a big factor in us contending last year and almost getting it done again, so I’ve been fortunate to be part of two of those, winning Martinsville and going to Phoenix.
“And everyone remembers the most recent winner, not only the outside world, but your competitors. They remember who won last week and who is looking good, so it’s a big confidence boost and hopefully we can be in that position. We’ve got to get the job done tomorrow to have that week.”
Like the trophy given out to the winner, the Grandfather Clock will tick down from the green flag all the way to the checkered flag. Team Penske hope the clock doesn’t strike midnight to their title aspirations and expand to their championship dynasty.
Race coverage of the Xfinity 500 begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC. William Byron will lead the 37-car filed to green with Logano and Blaney rolling off fourth and 31st respectively.
