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Joey Logano pit crew makes change for Homestead amid tire changer injury

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Oct 24, 2024 3:04 PM ET

For NASCAR Championship 4 driver Joey Logano, a pit crew change is being made with an injured tire carrier unable to compete this weekend. Homestead-Miami is not a race that matters all too much for Logano and his No. 22 team after last week’s win at Las Vegas.

Joe Dilly, the front tire changer for the 22 Team Penske team, is out with an injury. Keiston France, who usually works on Austin Cindric’s crew will now move over to Logano’s. Finally, Justin Armwood moves from the Rick Ware Racing No. 15 team over to Cindric’s crew.

A lot of shuffling for this week. Dilly is expected to return for Phoenix. I bet this is a case of wanting the full team completely healthy going into the championship. With Joey Logano locked into the championship, no need to push things.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported on the changes.

Penske front tire changer move for Homestead. Logano tire changer Joe Dilly nursing an injury and is hopeful to return for Phoenix. Keiston France moves from the Austin Cindric crew to Logano. Justin Armwood goes from Penske crew that does RWR 15 and moves to Cindric.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 24, 2024

A lot has been said since Logano won at Vegas. Whether or not he is deserving of the spot in the Championship 4. Fans have to realize that we are in a different era. Teams and drivers are not racing to have the best average finish. Many aren’t too concerned with even winning the regular season championship.

Looking at what Logano has been able to do in this playoff system, it’s impressive.

Joey Logano maximizes his performances

When it comes to the modern win-and-in system, it’s different. You maximize your strengths on certain tracks. All it takes is one win. Then maybe another. And before you know it, you’re in the championship race.

Joey Logano and Paul Wolfe are a great pairing. They win races even when they don’t have the fastest car. Say what you want about fuel-mileage wins, they are very much a part of the sport and always have been.

You hear it all the time about drivers getting the most out of their cars. Taking a top-15 car and getting a top-10 finish. Or a top-5 car and winning. Logano and Wolfe are perhaps the best at doing that.

Do not judge Logano on his entire season. That’s not how this works anymore. Logano and his team know where he has advantages as a driver and where their Ford Mustangs have an advantage. When those two things line up with the right strategy, it usually ends in victory.

Joey Logano is now 25th all-time in Cup Series wins. He is one shy of Brad Keselowski, one ahead of Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. He is a future Hall of Famer, and he is arguably the best NASCAR Playoffs driver since the Championship 4 was created.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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