Joey Logano and Team Penske are making a push for NASCAR points as the Chase approaches

Joey Logano, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, is aiming to secure a points title in the new Chase system, which places a greater emphasis on consistent finishes. Logano, who drives for Team Penske, admitted to having a chip on his shoulder, referencing their team slogan, "4 the haters." His recent surge from 20th to ninth in the standings has reversed the narrative surrounding the elimination playoffs.

The Chase, set to begin Sept. 6 at Darlington Raceway, will rely solely on points to determine the 16-driver field. Currently, the top 16 in the provisional Chase have remained unchanged for the past four races, with the grid for the 10-race title run likely to stay the same at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Shane van Gisbergen leads the pack, followed by Ryan Preece, who dropped 21 points after finishing 17th in Richmond.

The remaining drivers outside the Chase, such as Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, and Erik Jones, have also lost ground, reducing suspense for a surprise qualifier. The top half of the standings has seen more intrigue, particularly the progress of the Team Penske trio. Teammate Ryan Blaney moved up to second in the standings, while Austin Cindric secured a career-best third place.

Denny Hamlin leads the pack with a 115-point lead over Blaney, who is likely to clinch the top seed in the Chase. Logano, who has never made the Chase before, is 36 points away from sixth-ranked Chase Elliott. NASCAR analytics firm Racing Insights ran over 25,000 simulations, showing that the champion starts in the top six 85% of the time.

Logano has shifted his focus from making the Chase to winning the championship, emphasizing the importance of finishing in the top half of the points standings during the regular season.