The concept of gambling in Vegas shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but good lord, did the Penske team really raise the stakes last weekend? For the second time in three years, former two-time Cup Series Champion Joey Logano could be one monumental step closer to adding another title to his resume with a sensational win in Sin City. The Penske driver was the first of the lot to propel himself into the Championship 4 as he left the whole paddock dumbfounded with an audacious high-rolling strategy, flushing long-time leader Christopher Bell’s hopes down the drain.

In the aftermath of the Southpoint 400, while the rest of the field was busy scraping their jaws off the asphalt, Logano’s crew chief, Paul Wolfe, made sure to highlight the one key difference between his man’s jackpot and the rest.

Crew Chief Paul Wolfe shares his secret to the No. 22’s success

Paul Wolfe moved to Penske’s No. 22 team with Joey Logano in 2020 and has won the 2022 title with Logano. Now looking to win another championship for the team, Joey Logano’s crew chief spoke candidly about their Russian roulette play. From essentially being out of the playoffs last race to securing a Championship 4 spot, partially thanks to Alex Bowman’s misery, a mix of sheer will and a healthy dose of lady luck.

“It’s hard to believe,” Paul Wolfe admitted, prioritizing the value of teamwork over speed, as he spoke to NASCAR journalist Alex Weaver after the victory in Vegas. “We weren’t the fastest car, but we had the best team.” Wolfe credited his entire crew for betting on themselves to execute their pre-race plan, even in the face of tough decisions and tense moments.

“Was I nervous on the box? Sure,” Wolfe emphasized, “but I felt confident in my guys… at the end of the day, it doesn’t say who’s the fastest, it says who was the best team.” The team’s ability to maintain a poker face and execute under pressure paid off by only by holding off the afternoon’s most dominant car, Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Looking ahead to Phoenix, crew chief, Wolfe also expressed optimism. “We’ve had a strong short track program this year.” He recalled the last time they had that extra preparation time in 2022 when Logano won the championship, and he’s hopeful for a repeat. “I know we can go there and win.” Additionally, Joey Logano echoed Wolfe’s confidence, praising the team’s chemistry, when he said, “I don’t think there’s a team out there that works better together than Team Penske. That’s just in our DNA.”

But how on earth did Logano even win?

Honestly, the word ‘rollercoaster’ doesn’t even begin to accurately describe the #22 Penske Ford’s journey through the playoffs. His win at Las Vegas was a strategic gamble, staying out on old fuel while others pitted for the final stage. With help from teammate Ryan Blaney, Logano, and the team played a blinding hand, snagging the lead late as they held off the fast-charging #20 Toyota of Christopher Bell to seal the win by six-tenths of a second.

Reflecting on the race, Logano credited his team’s strategy and execution: “We may not have been the fastest car, but we maximized it,” he said. Despite being eliminated earlier in the playoffs at the Roval, Logano’s reinstatement following Alex Bowman’s unusual weight-limit disqualification gave him a second chance—and he made the most of it. Now, with his eyes on a third Cup Series championship, Logano is all set. He said, “I don’t know what it is about the even years…but maybe it’s real.”

He’s made it to the Championship 4 in every even-numbered year since NASCAR introduced the format, and after another Vegas victory, he seems poised to capitalize once again. Do you think it’ll be a Penske year again?