Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Joey Logano eliminated from NASCAR Cup title race after Martinsville
Joey Logano was eliminated from the 2026 NASCAR Cup title race after finishing 18th at Martinsville on Sunday.
The Team Penske driver had been collecting stage points and challenging for the win as other title contenders faced setbacks.
Two pit-stop problems derailed his race: he made an extra stop to tighten a wheel, then a crew member was pulled from the pit box while freeing a wrench from the car.
Logano has won the Cup championship three times, but he was outside the Chase field until mid-summer this season.
He said the team had a chance to keep its title hopes alive but lost that opportunity through its own mistakes.
His comeback included three wins since July, and he leads all Ford drivers in the standings.
The Homestead finale is next, and Logano's team still has a realistic chance to finish second in the standings.
Joey Logano was eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series title race after finishing 18th at Martinsville.
Two costly pit stops disrupted his chance to stay in contention for the championship finale.
Logano said his team had an opportunity but gave it back through its mistakes.
He said the team’s comeback from the regular season was something to be proud of.
Logano has won three races since July and is fifth in the standings.
- Who
- Joey Logano, driving for Team Penske.
- What
- He was eliminated from NASCAR Cup Series title contention after finishing 18th at Martinsville.
- When
- Sunday. The exact date of the race is not stated.
- Where
- Martinsville.
- Why
- Two costly pit stops took him out of contention for the race; his 18th-place finish left him eliminated from the title race.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Logano made an extra stop under green to tighten a wheel.
Logano dragged a crew member out of the pit box as the team struggled to pull a wrench out of the rear window.
Logano finished 18th and was eliminated from title contention.
- Race finish
- 18th
- Championship status
- Eliminated from title contention
- Standings
- Fifth
- Victories since July
- Three
- Team
- Team Penske
What people are saying
They were trying to give it to us and we gave it right back, so just frustrating is what it is.
You win as a team and lose as a team and today we’re gonna lose as a team.
We’re out of it now, which stings.