In case you missed it, StatChat is counting down the days ‘til the 2021 Daytona 500. Every two days, we will have a new article featuring one of the Top 30 Drivers of 2020. 3rd Place – Joey Logano – 5034 pts By the Numbers: 2 Wins in the First 4 Races – Joey Logano might have one of the bigger beefs with the COVID-induced 10-week break from racing in 2020. The first 4 pre-pandemic races went very well for Joey, as he won at both Las Vegas and Phoenix. His next win didn’t come until Race 33 at Kansas 2, and he was plagued with inconsistency, perhaps due to the lack of practice that was necessary to keep the season rolling. 7.60 Average Finish in the Playoffs – Logano had a decent stretch near the end of the regular season, but really turned things on in the playoffs. His total average finish for the entire season was 11.89 (his 6th best of 12 Cup Series seasons), but his playoff average was 7.60. There is something to be said about peaking at the right time, and by that metric, Joey Logano earned his place in the final 4. 15 Career Races @ Las Vegas – Ranking best of all current Cup Series drivers, in 15 career Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Joey Logano has the best average finish, and it’s not all that close. With an 8.40 average finish, which includes two wins, his next closest competitor in that category is Ryan Blaney, a full 1.27 spots behind him. 84.4% Laps in Top 15 – Behind only Cup Champion Chase Elliott, Logano had the 2nd most laps spent in the top 15. It really is a curious statistic. Kevin Harvick finished with an average finish almost 5 spots better than Logano, and is seen to have dominated most of the 2020 season. However, Joey Logano spent 2% more time in the Top 15 than Harvick did. 6.5 Average Starting Position – Despite the grievance Logano may have had with the COVID-19 break from racing, the post-pandemic qualifying procedure really gave him every opportunity to succeed. Once qualifying was no longer possible, NASCAR substituted it with a math formula that prioritized speed and finish from the previous race, as well as owner points. Joey Logano had the best Average Starting Position in 2020, with 6.5 – though unfortunately that didn’t translate to a similar finishing position. Joey Logano will return to the Team Penske No. 22 Ford in 2021. Being a part of one of the top-tier teams, he can expect to be a contender in each race, and may even have a shot at repeating his trip to the Final 4. Coming up in two days – Brad Keselowski Follow us on Twitter @StatChat_RR
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