
via Imago
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 22: Joey Logano 22 Team Penske Shell Pennzoil Ford laughs during qualifying for the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 on February 22, 2025, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 22 NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon250222284

via Imago
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 22: Joey Logano 22 Team Penske Shell Pennzoil Ford laughs during qualifying for the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 on February 22, 2025, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 22 NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon250222284
Joey Logano, now a fixture on pit road at 35, found himself surrounded by media flashes and chatter as he prepared for yet another milestone in his 17-season-long storied NASCAR career. The gravity of 600 career starts was unmistakable even among the seasoned crowd of Cup veterans; few have managed such longevity in a sport notorious for its relentless pace and constant churn of new talent. For Logano, who once drew equal measures of hype and scepticism as a teenage rookie, the moment was an invitation to reflect.
He spoke candidly about milestones, pride, and the passing of time, never projecting nostalgia, but always framing his journey with the perspective of an athlete still deeply connected to the day-to-day reality of elite competition. This wasn’t a goodbye or wistful gaze into the past; the conversation was rooted in the present and near future. As questions swirled about whether it’s retirement that’s next on his agenda, Logano’s focus remained strikingly clear.
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Joey Logano still loves winning
Amidst a wave of speculation that has greeted other stars like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin as they get further into their thirties, Joey Logano was directly asked when he might consider closing the chapter on his NASCAR career. His 5-word verdict was both candid and memorably succinct: “I’m not stepping away anytime soon.” But Logano didn’t just stop at those five words; he offered context to his mindset.
Speaking ahead of the Dover weekend during Ford’s media availability, Logano elaborated on the retirement question: “If I can win and be a help to my team, then I want to stick around.” Logano drew a line in the sand and said, “I always say as long as I can win. I really feel like that’s the standard for me. I love racing, but I really love winning a lot more.”
In a @FordPerformance beat reporter available yest. @joeylogano was asked when he’ll retire – 🙂
“If I can win and be a help to my team, then I want to stick around.” Logano answered, “I’m not stepping away anytime soon.”
Thoughts on making his 600th Cup start this weekend… pic.twitter.com/NvXdMV87eq
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) July 16, 2025
He also said, “If I can go race other things and win, I’ll go and do that, but my dream has always been to be a NASCAR driver, be a NASCAR champion, and if I can win and be a help to my team, then I want to stick around.” However, the moment he feels like dead weight, on or off the track, Logano said he won’t hesitate to step aside, knowing it’s time to get out of the way if he’s no longer bringing anything to the table.
His loyalty to Roger Penske runs deep, and Logano made it clear that he wants to lift those around him, not hold them back. “Something changes at some point,” he said. “But right now, I still feel as fresh as ever. I feel as sharp as ever. I’m driven as much as ever. I still care. I still get emotional about things.” The determination and passion exhibited are indicative of significant motivation. Presently, it is evident that retirement is not merely a consideration; it is far from being a priority for the No. 22 Penske driver.
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With Logano's passion still burning, how many more championships can he realistically win?
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Joey Logano’s legacy, upcoming milestone, and future thoughts
Joey Logano has had an impressive career in NASCAR, spanning 16 seasons at the highest level. He has made 596 starts in the Cup Series, achieving 37 wins and recording 291 top-ten finishes. As he approaches his 600th start, the Connecticut-born driver is on the verge of adding another significant accomplishment to his impressive resume.
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When asked about it, how he feels hitting the milestone of 600, he said, “I guess in two different ways. At first glance, I said, ‘Well, it just starts.’ But then, when you start thinking about it, to be able to be around in a sport as an athlete competing at a top level for 16-plus years, and hitting 600 starts, it’s pretty incredible to have a career that long. It’s something that I take some pride in. I’m proud of that, to be able to hit this marker. It’s a lot of starts.”
He went on to add, “I remember my 300th start, and I think it was Kenseth at the time, maybe it was Truex as well, that weren’t too far from 600, and I thought, ‘Geez, that’s double the amount of races as me. That’s crazy.’ But here I am, so it went by pretty quickly. It’s been a heck of a ride. This sport has been awesome to me and my family, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” he said, having a nostalgic flashback back of his career.
Despite owning just one victory in 2025, Joey Logano, a winner of two of the last three NASCAR Cup Series championships, is as competitive as ever. And no matter how the rest of the regular season goes, he’ll inevitably be one of the title favorites when the playoffs commence in September. However, he acknowledges that his driving skills will eventually decline. When that time comes, he believes he will be ready to move on from racing. “I don’t want to stick around and be one of those guys where people say, ‘Man, he went a few years too long,’” Logano said. “You don’t want to be that guy. I think whenever that happens, that happens, and I don’t know when that is.”
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“I would be an idiot to think you can be competing at the top level into your fifties. What athlete has ever done that?” Logano acknowledges that he likely has around 15 years left in his racing career. However, even if he only races for another 10 years, retirement still seems far off.
This perspective doesn’t signal a softening of his competitive edge. If anything, it’s an acknowledgement of what makes the journey meaningful. For Logano, there is no itch to explore other motorsports; NASCAR remains both the dream and the present reality. When the day comes to step away, he wants to do so with a sense of contentment and balance, not regret or longing.
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With Logano's passion still burning, how many more championships can he realistically win?