Arguably, Logano’s downward spiral began after that spring Richmond race, with the wind seemingly sucked out of the team’s sails after their win was encumbered.
Ten finishes outside the top 20, including three DNFs, sent Logano plummeting from a solid position to make the playoffs on points to a must-win, all-or-nothing, desperation effort in the final stages of the regular season.
Finishes of 13th at Bristol and 18th at Darlington pointed he and his team somewhat in the right direction, but they never really seemed to get the ship righted until Saturday night.
By then, it was much too late and one spot too little.
Despite the disappointment of not making the playoffs, Logano carried his head high after climbing from a special American Red Cross-themed car, specially-painted to draw awareness to the recent victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and those set to be impacted by Hurricane Irma in Florida.
He found a peace and grace in the situation he was left in leaving the Commonwealth on Saturday night, knowing that his season is not yet finished, even if he won’t be among those fighting for the Monster Energy Cup.
“(Missing the playoffs) is a test of our character, not only for me as a driver, but for us as a team and the way we handle these next 10 races,” Logano explained. “We don’t want to roll over. We want to help our teammates try to win a championship, but ultimately we want to win 10 races. That’s what the goal is at this point.”
“This may be the end of our championship run this year, but it’s not the end of our season. There’s still a lot of races and a lot of stats we can rack up to make up for the hurt we’re feeling right now. It is what it is. Like I said, we were close. I said before the race that second would be a failure, and we finished second. Go figure.”
The 27-year-old Connecticut native also recognizes that he still has a lot of time left in the sport to win a championship at the Cup level, despite missing out on an opportunity to contend for one this year.
“The goal for the last nine years has been to win the championship, and we keep getting close,” Logano reminded reporters after the race. “This year we won’t be in the hunt, but in the past three or four years, we’ve been in the hunt to make it happen.”
“I’m only 27. I’ve got a long ways to go in this deal, and I like the position that I’m in. I like the race team I’m with. If you let your job define who you are, it would hurt a lot more, but I’m able to know that life is a lot bigger than just driving a race car and I’m able to handle these situations a lot stronger as a man because of that.”
Of note, Logano becomes the first driver since the playoff format was revamped in 2014 to compete in the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway and then miss the playoffs the following season.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: [email protected]
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: [email protected]
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