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IN THE CHASE: Joey Logano is one of four drivers vying for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Logano comes into Homestead on the heels of a career-best year in the Sprint Cup Series, notching five wins, 16 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes, all best among the four drivers left racing for the Sprint Cup Championship. Logano also has earned two wins, six top-five and seven top-10 finishes in the nine Chase races up to this point.

BUSY TIME FOR THE TITLE CONTENDER: As one of the four drivers with a shot at the title at Homestead, Logano will have a full plate leading up to the 400-mile event on Sunday afternoon. Logano will take part in a special Championship Media Day on Wednesday. In addition, Logano will participate in an exclusive autograph session on Saturday at Homestead with his three fellow competitors racing for the championship. He will also have a host of media responsibilities over the week, including several interviews on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

HOMESTEAD HOPEFUL: Logano’s career numbers at Homestead-Miami Speedway might not reflect a track record of success, but looking at his season, past numbers aren’t always indicative of current results. In his only race at Homestead with Team Penske, Logano started third and finished eighth last season. Logano also has won a pole at Homestead, as he topped qualifying for the 2012 finale. Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil team also tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway a few weeks ago.

LOOKING BACK ON THE MOTIVATION: Being a part of the “Championship 4,” Logano will be guaranteed his best career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points finish. His previous best came last season, his first year with Team Penske, when he finished eighth in the point standings. Logano continues to draw inspiration from an early-season issue of NASCAR Illustrated, where it was predicted Logano would miss the Chase and finish 14th in the 2014 Sprint Cup Series point standings, despite coming off of a then-career-year in 2013.

ALL EQUAL SHOTS AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP: With the new format of the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2014, Logano and his fellow Championship hopefuls all come into the event with an equal shot for the title. Under the previous versions of the Chase, with points accumulated over the 10 Chase races, Logano would enter the Homestead finale with a 26-point lead over Kevin Harvick.

car

Primary Chassis: PRS-923
Last Raced: Chicagoland (finished 4th)

Backup Chassis: PRS-903
Last Raced: Texas 2 Backup (not raced)

broadcast

Race: Ford EcoBoost 400
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway

Date: Sunday, November 16
Race Start Time: 3:00 pm ET
RADIO Live on MRN and SIRIUS XM Channel 90
TV SCHEDULE Friday
12:30 pm ET, Practice (FS1)
6:00 pm ET, Qualifying (ESPN2)
Saturday
12:00 pm ET, Practice (FS1)
3:00 pm ET, Final Practice (FS2)

 

qa

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE COMPETING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND AT HOMESTEAD?

“It is exactly how you would think it feels – it’s the accumulation of a whole season of hard work. This No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford team has been strong all year, and I think we deserve to be in the final four competing for this Championship. I think it would have been a shame not to race for the title after the year we have had. Thankfully, we were able to make it through the Chase and make it to the final round. All of the teams in the Chase will say the same thing, but we deserve it. This team has worked its butt off all year long. We’ve been through a lot and we’ve come a long way to get where we are. (Crew chief) Todd (Gordon) has led this team, and we are all very close. This is the type of team you win Championships with.”

WHO DO YOU FEEL WILL BE THE BIGGEST COMPETITION FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND?

“I think they are all going to be strong. You don’t make it to this position without being strong. Kevin (Harvick), of course, has been strong all year long. They’ve led a lot of laps, and they’ve been strong at almost every single track. Denny (Hamlin) and that team have been coming on lately, and they’ve been strong in the Chase. And he won last year at Homestead, and that’s probably one of his better tracks. And Ryan (Newman) is consistent. Sometimes you just don’t think about him and there he is running fourth or fifth in the race out of nowhere. All of the teams are strong, but I think the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil team is just as strong, if not stronger, than all of them. I think we have as good of a shot as anyone, and I’d put my money on me. It will be fun to watch as a fan for sure.”