Joey Logano Remains Positive Amid Struggles in 2025 NASCAR Season

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — As the 2025 NASCAR season progresses, defending champion Joey Logano is searching for answers after a rocky start. Following a successful 2024 season where he clinched his third championship, Logano is now finding it difficult to achieve top results, trailing behind his competitors just six races into the new year.

Logano, who drives for Team Penske, is currently 11th in the standings, significantly below expectations considering he has yet to finish in the top 10. This marks his worst start since joining NASCAR in 2013 and represents the most challenging beginning for any reigning champion since the introduction of the playoff format.

“Speed – it’s like we have decent speed. We’ve been on the hunt, but we just got to have things work out correctly,” Logano explained during an interview with NASCAR SiriusXM Radio. “Some of it is self-induced; some of it is just not the best of luck.”

Despite his struggles, Logano has shown a determined mindset. He remains 30 points above the playoff cut line, highlighting his ability to collect valuable stage points even without securing top finishes. Additionally, Logano has led the most laps this season, totaling 247, indicating that while speed is present, execution on race day has been lacking.

Logano’s teammate, Ryan Blaney, is also facing challenges this season, suffering three DNFs (did not finishes) due to engine failures. Logano acknowledged the need for Team Penske to resolve their collective issues as they aim to regain their competitive edge.

In contrast to last year’s strong playoff performance, where Logano capitalized on other teams’ mistakes to secure victories, this season’s competition has played differently. “We won [in Las Vegas], and it’s like, ‘That just worked out,’” he remarked. “Now we start the season off, and it’s like, ‘We can’t do anything right.’”

Amid these challenges, Logano is focused on the upcoming race at Martinsville, where he will start from the seventh position. The race presents an opportunity for a turnaround, and Logano’s commitment to his team and the sport remains unwavering. “I want more pressure on me. I want more on my team… It makes it more uncomfortable. It sucks, but it makes us better,” he previously stated.

Logano’s relationship with rival driver Austin Dillon has also been a topic of conversation. Following a turbulent encounter at Richmond last season, Dillon recently expressed a willingness to race Logano more cleanly going forward, although he maintains a strong grudge against fellow driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., indicating that rivalries remain a key element in the sport.

As the first short track race of the season approaches, fans are keenly watching to see if Logano can capitalize on the high-pressure environment of Martinsville and turn his season around. Team Penske has historically performed well as the season progresses, leading to speculation that Logano and his team can rediscover their championship form.