By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
An unexpected reaction to an adjustment eliminated defending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano from the Playoffs.
After a top-five run in the first stage and winning the second stage, Logano’s No. 22 Shell / Pennzoil Ford Mustang appeared poised for victory lane. That was until an air pressure adjustment by his Team Penske pit crew changed the balance of his car.
Logano’s speed disappeared shortly after the race went back to green on lap 174. He plummeted down the running order and eventually outside the top-10. Eventual race winner Denny Hamlin lapped Logano late in the Bluegreen Vacations 500.
Although Logano utilized the wave around to move back onto the lead lap under the final caution, he could not overcome his points deficit to Kyle Busch. A ninth-place finish left him seven points outside the Championship Four.
Logano was baffled by the way his car reacted to the air pressure changes.
“It went from a really good car to a car that couldn’t stay on the lead lap with changing tires and a half pound of air. A lot of things don’t line up there. That doesn’t make any sense.
“The car shouldn’t do that, but it did and once we put tires back on it we got to where we could run competitive at least again, but we were so far back and I was running so hard trying to get back to the 11 that we ended up using it up again. We just needed a caution at the right time, and we didn’t get it to try to get back up there. It stinks.”
The Middletown, CT native entered ISM Raceway with a 20-point cushion over Hamlin. Logano lost two points in the stage finishes.
Much like his Team Penske teammate, Brad Keselowski, in the Round of 12, the initial points cushion was not enough to allow Logano to defend his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
With the points cushion over Hamlin voided, Logano’s only chance was to pass Busch. He tied the 2015 Premier Series Champion at the end of the second stage. However, the car’s reaction to the air pressure adjustment kept Logano from keeping Busch at bay.
“We did the first half of the race really well,” Logano explained. “We had a fast car. We scored a ton of stage points and to the point that we could tie the 18 and all I had to do was finish in front of him, which was the goal, and it went bad from there. I don’t get it, but it just wasn’t our year, I guess. I don’t know what to say.
“You’re up there wishing that somebody gets up there and passes him, but the 18 wasn’t gonna pass him. He could have but wasn’t going to obviously to have all of their cars in, so it is what it is. We’ll move forward.”
After his elimination, Logano is the first defending champion since Jimmie Johnson to be eliminated prior to the Championship Four. The elimination also extends a streak for the 29-year-old of failing to make the Championship Four in consecutive seasons.
Logano’s disappointment about failing to defend his title was evident.
“It stinks. I don’t know how disappointing it is, put a number on it. It hurts. It’s not what you fight all year for to fight for fifth now, but we will. That’s what we’ll do next week and we’ll try to maximize our day again and try to end the season on a win.”
The ninth-place finish is the 20th for Logano this season and the 199th of his Cup Series career. He now has the opportunity to earn his 200th-career top-10 finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend.