Joey Logano wins at Richmond Raceway, fueling NASCAR championship surge

Joey Logano and his No. 22 Team Penske Ford secured a victory at the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, marking a significant midseason turnaround. After struggling early in the 2026 season, Logano has climbed from 20th to ninth in the standings over the last six races, shifting his focus from merely qualifying for the playoffs to contending for the championship.

Logano addressed long-standing criticisms regarding the legitimacy of his previous three titles, which were won under the former win-and-you're-in elimination format. He asserted that all his championships are legitimate, stating, “I don't care what the format is. Because everyone knew the rules when it started.” To channel criticism, his team has adopted the slogan “4 the haters.”

The Richmond race also significantly impacted the Chase cutline. Austin Cindric’s third-place finish moved him to 15th in the standings, pushing Shane van Gisbergen down to the final playoff spot in 16th. This shift has left several drivers, including Erik Jones and Michael McDowell, with mathematically difficult paths to qualify for the postseason.