Kevin Harvick Decodes Joey Logano’s Relentlessness as Team Penske’s NASCAR Dominance Continues in Texas

“In hindsight, I could’ve been more aggressive to hold him off, but Joey’s just so good at capitalizing,” said Michael McDowell, regretting losing out on the trophy at Texas Speedway. Starting 27th following a troublesome Talladega weekend, Logano and his No. 22 Team Penske Ford had a tall order to do in a 267-lap race that had 15 lead changes, 10 cautions, and hard-fought battles. But, true to Logano’s form, he made adversity work for him, leaving fans, competitors, and pundits such as Kevin Harvick in awe of how he and his No. 22 crew continue to make it happen. This victory was not merely about speed; it was about heart, cunning, and a team that rises to the pressure.

The Texas race was a monster. Logano‘s starting position was a setback, a ripple effect from a brutal Talladega weekend that left several top drivers, including him, buried deep in the pack. The field was loaded with talent struggling to catch up, so every spot was earned hard. A penalty from the previous week‘s event could have rattled Logano‘s focus, but he and his Penske team remained razor-sharp. They drove a race in which survival was as paramount as speed, avoiding wrecks and making seamless pit stops. Logano‘s vehicle had the speed to keep up, but it was his skill at maintaining his cool under the chaos that paved the way for his final-race heroics.

Kevin Harvick knows what makes Team Penske so special

As the final laps unfolded, he spotted an opening and seized the moment, executing a daring maneuver to pass Michael McDowell and take the lead. That wasn‘t just talent—it was instinct developed over years of racing at the top of the sport. Toward the end of the race,  McDowell assumed the lead under caution on lap 251, with Ryan Blaney and Logano in second and third position waiting in the wings. McDowell, piloting the No. 71 Chevrolet, had been stout, pacing eight laps with a fast lap of 28.799 seconds (187.507 mph) on lap 246. But Logano, being within striking distance, saw his opportunity. With 16 laps remaining, he pulled off a risky move to pass McDowell, a maneuver so precise that it left McDowell second-guessing.

So, what‘s the secret to Logano‘s unstoppable success? Kevin Harvick revealed on the Happy Hour Podcast, “Typical Joey Logano fashion. Qualified in the back. That’s not typical. But he grounded out. He was, you know, those guys are just, they’re relentless. They don’t give up. They don’t quit. And we’ve seen it year after year with the 22 team, the Penske organization. They’re able to figure it out,” Harvick said. Logano‘s journey wasn‘t straightforward. Starting toward the back meant having to fight through a field of heavy hitters, many of whom were also coming off Talladega woes. The Texas track, which is famous for its high-speed competition, required precision. Logano‘s crew delivered, with pit stops that kept him in the hunt and a strategy that set him up for the last charge.

He hit on it during his Victory Lap interview with Joey Logano, and his words are telling: “What is it within this organization that makes your organization and team able to do this year after year to just block out all the noise, use your experience, and figure it out?” Logano’s response was revealing: “It’s a very engineering-based company. Problem-solving is what they’re very good at.” Kevin Harvick tied it together, noting that whether it’s overcoming a penalty like the one from the prior week or grinding through a survival race like Texas, Penske’s team excels at tackling challenges with precision and focus. The race was a grind, with survival as crucial as speed. Logano’s car had the pace, but he could stay calm and execute, which set him apart. But do you know where this comes from?

This excellence culture dates back to Roger Penske himself. Penske’s own days as a driver in the 1950s and 1960s formed the foundation for his team’s success. A fierce competitor, he won 20 of 53 SCCA races and received honors such as Sports Illustrated’s 1961 Driver of the Year. His attention to detail—reflected in his immaculate cars and data-driven strategies—created a benchmark of discipline and innovation. Penske’s transition to team ownership continued that mantra, creating an empire that’s claimed 44 championships and 619 victories in motorsports, including the Cup Series of NASCAR.

Logano’s victory at Texas is indicative of Penske’s tradition of giving drivers the best engineering and a never-say-die attitude when it comes to winning. Logano echoed that sentiment in an interview, breaking down the mentality that carried him to victory. “You just have to not wreck, you’ve got to make the pit stops, have the right strategy, and just put yourself in a position to survive,” he said. Texas races are brutal, often decided by who can stay clean and capitalize on others’ mistakes. Logano’s team did exactly that, keeping the car fast and mistake-free while others faltered.

His decisive move on McDowell was the culmination of a race-long effort to stay in contention, a moment that showcased both his driving prowess and Penske’s strategic edge. Fans, though, weren’t all cheering. Logano’s knack for drawing boos, often for his aggressive style or past controversies. Yet, that noise never seems to faze him. For #22 driver, the boos are just background noise.

His focus is on winning, and Texas was another reminder of why he’s a two-time Cup champion. As he stood in victory lane, trophy in hand, Logano sent a clear message to fans and competitors alike—love him or hate him, he’s not going anywhere. With Team Penske’s problem-solving machine behind him, the No. 22 car will keep chasing checkered flags, and the rest of the field will have to figure out how to keep up.

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Dale Jr. roasts Joey Logano for being too aggressive

Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently grilled Joey Logano over his radio chatter! Logano, the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champ, is known for keeping it clean on the radio, but lately, he’s been dropping some choice words. Logano admitted, “I feel like I’m pretty conscious of it most of the time. I don’t really have a reason most of the time. And I got kids now, so I try to be my best.” And boy, did that spark some drama!

Logano lost his cool when his teammate, Austin Cindric, gave away the Stage 2 lead to Bubba Wallace. Junior didn’t let this slide. On his podcast, he called out Logano’s foul mouth, joking, “I was like Joey Logano, what a foul mouth. Did your mother have a problem with that? Did your wife say, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’” Fans are eating it up, with some loving Logano’s fire and others shocked by his outburst.

However, that does not change the fact that Joey Logano has a crooked sense of humor. He wore the Atlanta Braves cap in the victory lane of the Texas Motor Speedway. And the reason? Of course, a silent dig at MLB legend Chipper Jones, who had called him out for calling his teammate a “Dumb f—“. But things are looking better between the two. Why? Well, in Logano’s words, “Then the guy sends a nice tweet out and like….. this nice thing about hall of fame race car driver and doing what I’m supposed to do,” Matter resolved! It is a nice way to put things behind and look towards a better future.

Joey Logano’s passion is what makes NASCAR thrilling, but seeing teammates clash stings. Can Team Penske patch things up, or is this just the start of more radio rants? One thing’s for sure—Logano’s not holding back, and Junior’s loving every minute of it!