Joey Logano has faced challenges in recent races, but Kevin Harvick remains confident that the driver can improve before the NASCAR playoffs begin. Speaking on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Harvick highlighted how Logano’s current form compares unfavorably to this time last year, emphasizing the struggles with speed and car handling.
They’re definitely not in a position that they were last year at this point, from a speed standpoint, handling, all the things above,
Kevin Harvick said.
They were much more in tune with the performance last year than they are this year.
Recent Race Performance and Expectations for Upcoming Tracks
Harvick noted that Logano’s No. 22 Ford performed as a lower-tier top-10 car at the Brickyard 400, which was consistent with the general pace of that race. Despite these issues, Harvick anticipates stronger results from Logano and other drivers such as Josh Berry and Austin Cindric at the upcoming race in Iowa.
Through the last eight races, Logano has managed just a single top-10 finish—a ninth place at Sonoma. As the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, Logano has solidified his position in the playoffs by winning at Texas. Nonetheless, he currently holds only five top-10 finishes and two top-five placements.
Last season, Logano entered the playoffs with one win and seven top-10 results. During that postseason, he captured victories at Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, ultimately securing the championship title.
Joey Logano’s Mindset Heading into the 2025 Season and Championship Goals
Ahead of the 2025 season, Logano spoke candidly about the mindset needed to pursue a fourth NASCAR Cup Series championship. Addressing FOX Sports before a race at Bowman Gray, he emphasized the need to avoid complacency and maintain a focus on continual improvement.
Well, I mean, the bottom line is that the goal never changes. The goal is to win the championship, whether you won last year or not,
Logano stated.
You’ve got to remember what you did last year will not be good enough to win this year. So just always constantly looking for improvement and keeping everybody on their game, right, because that’s over. As great as that moment was — and it’s fun to watch it, believe me, it’s really fun just to watch that — it’s over and we’ve got to do it all again. The scoreboards reset back to zero.
Implications for the Playoff Battle and Logano’s Prospects
The ongoing Joey Logano NASCAR playoff struggles place added pressure on the team to find answers quickly, especially given the fierce competition and the importance of momentum heading into the postseason. Harvick’s outlook suggests optimism that adjustments and better car performance at the right tracks could enable Logano to regain his spots among the top contenders.
As the playoffs approach, Logano’s ability to reverse his recent difficulties will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. Success at upcoming races like Iowa could be critical for building the confidence and results necessary to defend his championship and possibly add a fourth title to his career achievements.
