{
  "id": 1542706,
  "title": "Joey Logano and Team Penske are making a push for NASCAR points as the Chase approaches",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/joey-logano-and-team-penske-are-making-a-push-for-nascar-points-as-1542706",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T19:01:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/autoracing/2026/08/17/joey-logano-and-team-penske-are-making-a-push-for-nascar-points-as-the-chase-approaches"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Joey Logano, a driver for Team Penske, is actively pursuing NASCAR points as the Chase for the championship approaches. Despite having three Cup Series titles, Logano has never claimed a spot in the Chase system that began this season. The driver acknowledges having a \"chip on his shoulder,\" which he refers to as \"4 the haters,\" an attitude that fuels his motivation.\n\nLogano's performance has significantly improved, surging from 20th to 9th in the standings over the past six races. This surge has altered the narrative surrounding the elimination playoffs that were in place for 12 years. The new format of the Chase relies solely on points to determine the 16-driver field, with the top 16 remaining unchanged for the past four races.\n\nShane van Gisbergen holds the final spot in the Chase, 50 points ahead of Ryan Preece. With the possibility of surprise qualifiers dwindling, only a few drivers, such as Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, and Erik Jones, remain in contention. The top half of the standings has seen increased intrigue, especially with Team Penske's drivers making strides. Logano's teammate Ryan Blaney moved into second place, while Austin Cindric secured third place. Denny Hamlin currently leads the standings with a 115-point lead over Blaney, who is likely to secure the top seed in the Chase.\n\nLogano's goal has shifted from merely making the Chase to winning the championship. His No. 22 Ford was ranked 17th before securing two wins in the last four races. If Logano performs well at the upcoming New Hampshire Motor Speedway event, he could join several other drivers in solidifying their positions in the championship.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}