Joey Logano recently shared his approach to competing against Kyle Larson, a fellow NASCAR Cup champion known for his exceptional driving ability. During a recent conversation on the podcast Stacking Pennies, Logano explained how he relies on preparation and attention to detail to outperform Larson’s natural talent on the track.
Logano highlighted Larson’s capability to push his car to its limits, admitting that beating him purely on speed is challenging. Instead, Logano focuses on aspects off the track where he can gain an advantage.
Focused Preparation: Leveraging Small Details to Gain an Edge
Logano emphasized the need to compensate for Larson’s raw talent by excelling in areas that require preparation and focus. He stated,
“He’s got a ridiculous amount of natural talent though. He will drive that vehicle as fast as it can go. He’s really good at that. Yeah, right. And so I have to beat him on other things to beat him because if not, he’s just going to go faster than me. I gotta beat him on details. I got to beat him on the little stuff, the stuff that he won’t have the time to prep on. I that’s my only chance,”
(20:20 onwards).
He also reflected on his own journey in comparison to athletes with natural abilities, saying,
“Like I there’s NBA players that have a crap ton of natural talent and they can show and go and they’re great. And then there’s players that have to overcome some of that. I think I’m one of those players that I have to overcome some things. I’m okay with that. I’ve accepted that.”
Despite facing a tough regular season with only seven top-five finishes and an average finish of 17.1—which is the lowest average finish for a modern-era champion—Logano succeeded when it mattered most. He won three of the final 10 races to secure his third Cup title, joining an elite group of drivers with three championships.
In contrast, Larson led the series in wins with six and logged the most laps led overall at 1,699 but was eliminated before the Championship 4, ultimately finishing sixth in the standings.
Challenges at the Coca-Cola 600 Impact Logano’s Recent Performance
Logano’s latest race at the Coca-Cola 600 did not go as planned, finishing 17th after starting 16th. Early handling issues saw him drop to 27th and 32nd place in the opening two stages at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Not the final result we wanted, but at the end of the night, we remember how thankful we are to do what we love…,” Joey Logano wrote following the race on Memorial Day.
Currently ninth in the points standings for the 2025 season, Logano has recorded one victory and two additional top-10 finishes. His sole win this season came at Texas, where he narrowly edged Ross Chastain by 0.346 seconds at the finish line.
Looking ahead, Logano is preparing for the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, a track where he has found recent success. He holds the title of defending race winner at the 1.333-mile tri-oval after last year’s event featured a record five overtime attempts.
Why Logano’s Approach Could Influence Future NASCAR Battles
Logano’s strategy to focus on preparation and details represents a deliberate method to challenge Larson’s speed-driven dominance. By capitalizing on elements besides raw driving skill, he maintains competitiveness in a field where natural talent often dictates winning margins.
This mindset not only helped Logano secure a championship in a difficult season but likely will continue to shape his performance moving forward. As the season progresses, his ability to prepare carefully and exploit small advantages may be decisive in key races, especially against top contenders like Larson and Chastain.
