NASCAR
Joey Logano Finds Victory Lane at Texas for First 2025 Win
FORT WORTH, Texas – 2024 Cup champion Joey Logano had a horrid opening ten weeks of his title defense season. Insult was only added to injury last week at Talladega, where a top-five result led to a disqualification. The Penske 22 had to rally early in Texas starting 27th, but was out front when it mattered most in the closing laps. Victorious for the first time in 2025, Logano now faces down a potential fourth championship run.
Talladega winner Austin Cindric won Stage 1, thanks to a two-tire pit stop midway through the opening run. The first green-checkers waved after a rare engine failure from Denny Hamlin. The No. 11 Toyota erases a 21-race lead lap finish streak, one of the longest in Cup history.
Stage 2 went to Kyle Larson, who inherited the lead after Josh Berry spun from the top spot on lap 125.
Larson appeared to have this race well in command, chasing a Texas weekend sweep. The Hendrick No. 5 team only lost control with 23 laps left, when Michael McDowell got a jump into turn one.
The Spire Motorsports No. 71 held off every challenger on two-straight restarts, but began to slow inside the final 10 laps. The two older tires on McDowell’s car began to show their age, and Joey Logano was there to pounce. The No. 22 Ford made the pass with four laps left, only for McDowell to spin moments later after being passed for second by Ryan Blaney.
Overtime pitted Penske teammates Logano and Blaney on each others’ doors, with the 22 getting the advantage into turn one. This was enough of a gap for Logano to seal his first win of 2025. Logano’s no top-fives streak is over, with the defending Cup champion returning to winning form. Logano also takes sponsor AAA to their first triumph across two decades of Cup Series racing.
“The sport changes so quickly,” Logano said. “It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters and just proud of the team. Finally get AAA Insurance into victory lane. They’ve been a partner of mine since I’ve been to Penske, so 13, 14 years. I’ve yet to win with them. It was awesome to get that done here.”
“The JL Kids Crew is here. We’ll have fun with them on victory lane. A lot of people here. My family, they’re at home. Hey, Brittany, the kids, love you guys. It’s going to be a fun night.”
“[We passed cars] slowly, methodically, a couple at a time. We had a really tough pit stall situation. The pit crew did a good job of managing that and just grabbed a couple here and there. The car was fast. I knew that yesterday. We just did a poor job qualifying. Just grinded it. Just keep grinding a couple here and a couple there and eventually get a win here. It’s nice to get one. Real nice.”
Rallying to second behind Logano in the final dash was Ross Chastain, who beat out Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson. Erik Jones also earned his best finish of the season in fifth. The rest of the top-10 were: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Suarez.
Thanks to his 37th career Cup win and first Texas checkered flag in 11 years, Logano is Playoff-bound for the 12th time. Driver 22 is the seventh man to lock up a postseason berth 11 weeks into the 2025 season.
A Sunflower State showdown is up next for the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway. Home of the closest finish ever in 2024, the Advent Health 400 hopes to live up to its billing. The green flag will fly Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to James Gilbert/Getty Images
