“You’re Not Contending for Championship”: NASCAR Champion Handed Harsh Reality Check by Kevin Harvick
Credits: Imago ©Credits: Imago “All of the championships are special, but just to shut the haters up would be great,” is the sentiment that Joey Logano carried early in the 2026 Cup Season, and it was justified, looking at his performances. However, the season’s progress and his performance seem to be going opposite ways as a huge question mark looms over his title chances for the season. Kevin Harvick warns Joey Logano “I think that the 22 is probably in the worst spot of the bunch, with the expectations to race for a championship, and they’re on the outside of the Chase looking in,” Kevin Harvick said on his podcast.
There has been some strong speculation regarding Logano’s overall performance, and consistency has been the biggest issue. He started out the season just fine with a top three at Daytona, and managed to replicate that result at Martinsville. But ever since the race in Kansas, he hasn’t managed to finish within the top 30.
Considering the championship format this season, Harvick doesn’t sound too hopeful for the #22 team. “The reality of the situation is they’re probably not going to contend for the championship. They might make the Chase, and they, they might turn their season around, but I don’t, I don’t see them contending for the championship,” he added.
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 12: Joey Logano (22) Team Penske Pennzoil Ford Mustang does a burnout during the Monster Energy NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series South Point 400 Burnout event on September 12, 2019, on Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire) AUTO: SEP 12 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – South Point 400 Burnout PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon0071909122756 To be fair, however, this has been the case for Logano for a long time now. The team isn’t the strongest in the first few races, but catches enough traction after 10 rounds or so.
This trend has continued for a long time. Even when he won the championship in 2024, it wasn’t until round 19 at Nashville that he had won a race. However, there is also the fact that all three of his championships have come under the elimination-style playoffs, which don’t exist this season onwards.
Continue to the original source for the full article.