'Sweet redemption': Joey Logano ends 9-year drought at Richmond - ESPN

RICHMOND, Va. — Joey Logano delivered a warning to his NASCAR rivals after his victory Saturday night at Richmond Raceway.

«Don't let the boys get hot,» the driver of Team Penske's No. 22 Ford said after fending off a late charge by Chase Briscoe to earn his 39th career win by 0.392 seconds. «We're pretty strong right now. It's awesome to see the speed in the 22 again.»

After falling as low as 20th in the points standings at the season's halfway mark, the three-time Cup Series champion is surging toward the NASCAR Chase. Two races remain until the title run featuring the top 16 drivers.

With two victories in the past four races (after only one win in his previous 56 starts), Logano has jumped to ninth in the points standings and established himself as a championship contender again.

It's no surprise given that it's the 2026 season. Since 2014, Logano has either won the Cup title or advanced to the championship round in every even-numbered year, and he typically does it with a late-season spree. In his last title run, the 36-year-old won three of the final 10 races.

«We've seen it a lot over the years once he gets that confidence,» crew chief Paul Wolfe said. «He's very good under pressure situations.»

Logano scored his third Richmond win Saturday but his first in nine years at the track.

«Gosh, it was a great car,» he said. «We've had a great car here the last five races, and we haven't been able to capitalize on the win. We've been so close, but it was sweet redemption today.»

Logano capitalized on the final strategy call by Wolfe, who pitted his driver just after taking the lead from Briscoe with 39 laps remaining. Logano needed only 15 laps to retake the lead from Christopher Bell, who was trying to stretch his tires