Ahead of the Race in New Hampshire, Joey Logano Sent a Defiant Message to His Rivals as He Aimed for a Third Win: “We Have to Be Stronger Than Ever.”

LOUDON, N.H. — The crisp autumn air at New Hampshire Motor Speedway carried more than just the scent of burning rubber and high-octane fuel this weekend. As the NASCAR Cup Series gears up for the penultimate regular-season showdown, Joey Logano, the two-time defending champion and perennial thorn in the side of his competitors, dropped a verbal bombshell that has the garage buzzing. In a no-holds-barred interview ahead of Sunday’s Crayon 301, Logano stared down the barrel of intensifying pressure from a resurgent field and declared, “We have to be stronger than ever.” It’s a line that’s equal parts rallying cry for his Team Penske crew and a gauntlet thrown at everyone else vying for supremacy on the 1.058-mile flat oval.

Logano, piloting the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Roger Penske’s powerhouse operation, enters this weekend with a chip on his shoulder the size of the White Mountains. He’s already notched two victories this season—at Atlanta in the spring and Phoenix in the early summer—but the path to a third has been anything but smooth. A string of mid-pack finishes, including a frustrating 15th at Watkins Glen two weeks ago due to a late-race strategy miscue, has left the Middletown, Connecticut, native hungry for redemption. “Look, we’ve had our moments this year where things didn’t click,” Logano admitted during a Thursday media session, his voice steady but laced with that signature edge. “But New Hampshire? This place owes me nothing, and I’m not asking for favors. We’re coming in with everything we’ve got, and yeah, we have to be stronger than ever because the field’s closing in.”

That field, mind you, is a minefield of talent and turmoil. Kyle Larson, the Hendrick Motorsports phenom, leads the points standings by a slender eight markers over his teammate William Byron, both of whom have been on a tear through the road-course-heavy stretch. Larson’s three wins, including a dominant display at Sonoma, have cemented him as the championship favorite, but Logano’s history at Loudon gives him an ace up his sleeve. The 34-year-old has won here twice before, in 2018 and 2022, both times showcasing the kind of tire management and fuel-mileage wizardry that turns this quirky “Magic Mile” into a chess match on wheels. “Joey’s got that short-track DNA,” said crew chief Paul Wolfe, who’s been with Logano since their breakthrough days in the Nationwide Series. “He thrives when it’s tight, when every decision counts. This quote? It’s not bravado; it’s blueprint.”

The defiant tone isn’t lost on Logano’s rivals, who see it as classic psychological warfare from a driver who’s mastered the art of the mind game. Denny Hamlin, ever the Joe Gibbs Racing agitator, fired back during his own briefing, smirking as he said, “Stronger than ever? Joey’s been saying variations of that since he was a kid in go-karts. We’ll see if his car’s got the legs to back it up.” Hamlin, winless since Dover in April, desperately needs a boost to lock in a playoff spot, and New Hampshire’s banking—minimal at just 2-4 degrees—plays to his aggressive style. Then there’s Ty Gibbs, the 22-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, who’s been flirting with his first Cup victory for months. Gibbs qualified on the pole Friday afternoon with a blistering lap of 29.872 seconds, edging out Logano’s teammate Ryan Blaney by a mere 0.012 seconds. “Joey’s message is loud and clear,” Gibbs quipped. “But we’re not intimidated. This is our house now.”

Behind the banter lies a deeper narrative for Logano: legacy. With 28 Cup wins under his belt and a pair of titles in the last three years, he’s no stranger to the spotlight. Yet as the playoffs loom just one race away—next week’s Southern 500 at Darlington will cap the regular season—every point, every position feels amplified. Logano’s “stronger than ever” edict underscores a team-wide recalibration. Post-Watkins Glen, Penske engineers pored over data, tweaking the aero package for better downforce on the flat track and fine-tuning the engine for the short runs that define Loudon. “We’ve simulated a thousand laps this week,” Logano revealed. “The car’s got speed, but it’s about execution. No mistakes. We’re not just racing the other guys; we’re racing our potential.”

Fans, packing the grandstands under a canopy of New England foliage, sense the electricity. New Hampshire has long been a fan favorite for its intimacy—the track’s layout allows spectators to hear every gear shift and smell the drama unfolding. Logano, a Northeast native, draws extra support here, with “Joey’s Army” flags waving prominently. But the undercurrent of rivalry adds spice; boos rained down on Larson during driver intros, a reminder of how personal these battles can get. As qualifying wrapped up Saturday, with Logano slotting in third behind Gibbs and Blaney, the stage was set for a showdown that could shuffle the playoff grid dramatically.

What makes Logano’s message resonate isn’t just the words—it’s the man delivering them. From his early days as a teenage prodigy thrust into NASCAR’s big leagues to the grizzled veteran who’s stared down scandals and setbacks, Logano embodies resilience. Remember 2023? A mid-season slump had doubters circling, only for him to storm back with wins at Nashville and Miami, clinching the title in a photo finish at Phoenix. This time, the stakes feel even higher. A win Sunday would not only vault him into the top five in points but stamp him as the man to beat in the 16-race postseason grind.

As the sun sets over the speedway Saturday evening, Logano climbs into his transporter for one last strategy huddle. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, betray no fear. “Stronger than ever,” he repeats to his crew, the phrase now a mantra etched into the team’s ethos. Rivals may scoff, fans may cheer, but in the cockpit, where rubber meets road at 130 mph, Logano’s words will either propel him to glory or serve as fuel for the fire. For now, though, the message hangs in the air like exhaust smoke: the hunt is on, and Joey Logano isn’t backing down.

In a sport where alliances shift faster than lap times, Logano’s defiance could be the spark that ignites his third regular-season triumph—or the echo of overconfidence if things go awry. Either way, New Hampshire promises to deliver answers, one green-flag lap at a time. As the field rolls off pit road Sunday afternoon, all eyes will be on the No. 22, wondering if “stronger than ever” translates to checkered-flag gold.