Joey Logano and Team Penske turn into a different beast when the NASCAR playoffs hit. It’s like they’ve got a secret switch for the elimination rounds. Stage points, bold passes, and slick pit calls become their bread and butter. What looks like chaos to the grandstands is pure strategy for Logano, Ryan Blaney, and the Penske crew.

They thrive on the high-stakes chess game, making moves others wouldn’t dare. Logano’s 2018 title run was a masterclass. Clutch passes, nervy restarts, and a never-quit mindset carried him past faltering rivals. Now, with the Round of 8 underway, Logano’s dropping hints he’s ready for another Cinderella story, warning the field he’s not out of the fight yet.

Logano’s playoff mindset

On a recent Rubbin is Racing Podcast, Logano laid it out: “Okay, I believe so. I think if you run 8th or 9th all day long not good enough. I don’t. I don’t think that’ll be good enough. I think you’ve got to walk out of here scoring at least 45 points at least.” He’s laser-focused on stage points, the playoff currency that can make or break a Championship 4 shot.

In NASCAR’s format, racking up points in stages and the race finish is survival. 45 points means top finishes or stage wins. Logano’s 2018 title leaned on this, piling up points to stay alive, a tactic that’s kept him in the hunt year after year.

“It’s hard to make that call now. I think you’ve got to get out to Vegas. We got to see what we have for speed in our car. We have to start the racing, and you have to leave some things. Just stuff for an audible at some point, right?” Logano said.

Vegas, the Round of 8 opener, is a 1.5-mile beast where speed and tire management sort the field. His call for “audibles” screams Penske’s playbook. Think 2023 Vegas, where his crew chief, Paul Wolfe’s mid-race pit tweak outsmarted rivals. Logano knows the No. 22 needs to show up fast to set the tone.

“Like we’re, you got to see where you’re at and how things are going, but at the moment, if you’re sitting here on Wednesday at Team Penske, you’d say okay. We still have a decent shot at pointing in. You don’t want to throw away that opportunity. Yeah, right, you have two avenues of getting it right now,” he added.

Logano’s eyeing both paths: stack points or steal a win. His 2018 and 2022 runs showed he can do either, like snagging stage points at the 2018 Roval to squeak through. Penske’s dual strategy keeps them dangerous, never wasting a chance to advance.

“Let’s not cut it off right and cut one of them off like we still have a shot. Like I said, it’s a long shot. It’s going to be harder for us than anybody else to get there because of our point situation, but we’ve been here many times before. That’s what gives me so much confidence,” Logano said.

Sitting 24 points below the cutline, he’s been the underdog before. Think 2018’s Roval chaos, where he clawed into the next round. His confidence isn’t bravado. It’s built on surviving tight spots, making his subtle warning a loud signal he’s gunning for the Championship 4.

Logano’s long-shot confidence sets the stage for a Vegas showdown, where William Byron is sounding his own alarm.

Byron’s Vegas pressure cooker

“The next round is the one we’ve put our focus on,” Byron said. “It’s what determines if you race for a championship. Everyone is going to put a lot of focus on this weekend’s race (at Las Vegas Motor Speedway). It’s the easiest way to lock yourself in.”

The Hendrick driver, winless since August and missing the Championship 4 twice, sees the South Point 400 as his shot. His 41.6 average points at Vegas in the Next Gen era, second only to Kyle Larson, and five straight top-10s there make him a threat.

“Talladega (Superspeedway) is a bit of a crap shoot, and honestly, Martinsville (Speedway) hasn’t been our strongest in the fall. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for,” Byron added. Talladega’s chaos and Martinsville’s struggles put Vegas front and center for the No. 24.

Like Logano’s point-chasing mindset, Byron’s all-in on a win to punch his ticket, knowing anything less than max points won’t cut it. Both drivers, with their teams’ playoff savvy, are turning Vegas into a high-stakes proving ground, where Logano’s Cinderella run and Byron’s must-win collide.