Joey Logano executed a bold and decisive late-race pass to claim victory at the Wurth 400 held Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, overcoming Michael McDowell with just four laps remaining. After a fierce overtime battle, Logano pulled away from both Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain to secure his first win of the 2025 season and the 37th of his NASCAR Cup Series career. This triumph moved the three-time and defending Cup Series champion into a tie for 23rd on NASCAR’s all-time wins list alongside Hall of Famer Bobby Isaac, marking a significant milestone for the talented driver.
The race unfolded as a grueling test of skill and endurance, featuring twelve caution flags attributable to aggressive battles for track position and the notoriously rough surface at Texas. Logano found himself poised to take control in the closing stages after skillfully passing his Penske teammate, Ryan Blaney. Blaney’s move handed Logano the chance to close the gap on McDowell, who had been leading for a stretch thanks to a strategic two-tire pit stop. However, McDowell’s older left-side tires left him vulnerable as Logano relentlessly applied pressure.
In a dramatic final effort to hold the lead, McDowell blocked Logano deep into the backstretch, forcing the challenger toward the apron as Logano gained momentum coming off turn 2. Despite McDowell’s aggressive defense, Logano executed a clean and courageous pass by turn 3, demonstrating precise timing and control. Moments later, McDowell crashed off turn 2, which triggered a late-race restart where Logano quickly distanced himself from Blaney and Chastain, leaving no doubt about his commanding pace.
The top five was rounded out by Kyle Larson and Erik Jones, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Suarez completed the top ten finishers. The high-attrition nature of the race saw several contenders face setbacks, including spins and crashes, as the challenging track conditions tested every competitor’s resilience.
This victory was especially meaningful for Logano following a controversial week. Just one week prior at Talladega, he was disqualified after his car failed a post-race inspection due to a missing spoiler bolt, wiping out what would have been a valuable fifth-place finish. The disqualification cost him his first top-five result of the season and left him entangled in a heated exchange with Atlanta Braves great and Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones. After a profanity-laced radio outburst directed at teammate Austin Cindric, Jones took to social media criticizing Logano’s attitude, describing it as
hooray for our team as long as I’m the star
and hinting that “sometimes karma is glorious.”
Against this backdrop, Logano’s performance at Texas felt like a statement.
This sport changes so quickly. It’s crazy how you can just ride these rollercoasters,
Logano reflected in a post-race interview with Fox Sports. He described his climb from a difficult 27th starting position by crediting his team’s strategic pit work and steady perseverance.
We had a really tough pit stall situation, the pit crew did a good job at managing that. And just grabbed a couple (positions) here and there. The car was fast, I knew that yesterday. I just did a poor job qualifying, and just grinded it out. Just keep grinding a couple here and a couple there, and then eventually get a win here. So it’s nice to get one. Real nice.
While Logano surged forward, the race tested many drivers who struggled with a challenging track surface, particularly around the backstretch and the apexes of turns 3 and 4. Notable contenders like Josh Berry, Chase Briscoe, and Kyle Busch were among those to spin after bottoming out on bumps in these sections. The race also saw multi-car collisions disrupting the field, including an incident involving polesitter Carson Hocevar, who triggered a crash after sliding up the track and making contact with Ryan Preece. This collision resulted in the elimination of Hocevar, Preece, and Cody Ware from the race.
Preece, who has had ongoing issues with Hocevar, expressed frustration following the wreck.
He seems to be proving me right over and over again,
Preece said candidly outside the infield care center.
…Got ran into the fence by somebody that has no respect for his equipment and any other driver out there. He’ll have his day.
The tension between the two drivers added a dramatic subplot to an already intense race weekend.
Erik Jones, who finished within the top five, publicly praised Logano on his X social media account, acknowledging the driver’s mastery and consistency.
Congratulations to @joeylogano. A HOF driver with a masterful win. This is what NASCAR fans expect from you. Hard charging wins and gracious top 5s and 10s. Well done!
Jones’ words reflected the respect Logano commands from his peers after a performance that not only showcased skill but also determination and focus under pressure.
Joey Logano’s daring late-race pass at Texas Motor Speedway may well signal a turning point in his 2025 campaign, setting up momentum as the season unfolds. His ability to overcome adversity, including the recent Talladega disqualification and surrounding controversies, demonstrates a resilience that could prove vital in pursuing a fourth Cup Series championship. With his team firing on all cylinders and his car consistently fast, Logano has positioned himself as a serious contender, reminding fans and rivals alike that his hunger for victory remains unmistakably fierce.
Looking ahead, this win provides not only essential points but also renewed confidence, which could influence both Logano’s strategy and his competitors’ approaches in the races to come. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the No. 22 Ford driver to see if he can sustain this level of performance and continue to rack up impressive results against a highly competitive field.
