Joey Logano Set to Led the Field to Green at Loudon After Capturing the Busch Light Pole

The tension at New Hampshire Motor Speedway told the story before any stopwatch could. Joey Logano, Connecticut’s own racing son, delivered when it mattered most on Saturday afternoon. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion grabbed his second Busch Light Pole Award of 2025, clocking a blistering 130.622 mph lap around the challenging one-mile track.

For Logano and his legion of New England fans packed into the grandstands, this pole position felt different. This wasn’t just another qualifying session. This was their guy showing what home-track advantage really means. The emotion was written across the faces of supporters wearing his number 22 gear, many of whom have followed his career since his early days racing through Connecticut’s local tracks.

Team Penske Shows Championship Form

The front row tells the championship story perfectly. Logano’s teammate Ryan Blaney, the 2023 series champion, secured the outside pole position. These two drivers know what it takes to win when everything’s on the line, and having them start side-by-side sends a clear message to the rest of the field.

“The expectation is to win all the time, that’s why I’m here, that’s why Paul [Wolfe] is here, that’s why Roger [Penske] is here, and they expect us to win,” Logano said after climbing out of his Ford. You could hear the quiet confidence in his voice – not cockiness, just the steady assurance of a driver who’s been here before and knows what needs to happen.

The Ford dominance didn’t stop with the front row. Josh Berry wheeled his Wood Brothers Racing machine to the third starting spot, completing a Ford sweep of the top three positions. When one manufacturer shows this kind of speed in qualifying, it usually means they’ve found something special for race day.

Playoff Implications Heat Up

Six playoff drivers secured top-ten starting positions, setting up what promises to be an intense battle from the drop of the green flag. William Byron, the Regular Season Champion, starts fifth and topped practice speeds earlier in the day. Ross Chastain grabbed eighth, while points leader Denny Hamlin rolled off ninth.

The numbers tell a concerning story for some championship contenders. Defending New Hampshire winner Christopher Bell starts 19th. Kyle Larson, always dangerous but sometimes unpredictable, begins his Sunday from 16th position. Chase Elliott, still fighting to find the speed that made him champion in 2020, starts way back in 27th.

These starting positions matter more than usual in New Hampshire. The one-mile track has developed a reputation for being difficult to pass on, meaning track position becomes absolutely critical. Every spot you lose in the opening laps becomes that much harder to recover.

Historical Context Adds Pressure

The manufacturer statistics create another layer of intrigue heading into Sunday’s Mobil 1 301. Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing have dominated the playoffs so far, sweeping the first three races of the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Ford hasn’t visited victory lane at New Hampshire since Aric Almirola’s win in 2021, and Chevrolet’s drought here dates back to Kevin Harvick’s 2016 triumph.

Logano understands the weight of these statistics, but he also knows his own history at this track. His lobster trophy collection includes wins from 2009 and 2014, proof that he knows how to navigate New Hampshire’s unique challenges when it counts most.

The Emotional Factor

What struck you most watching Logano’s post-qualifying interview wasn’t what he said, but how he said it. There was genuine excitement mixed with championship-tested composure. This is a driver who remembers growing up watching races at this track, dreaming of one day calling it his home track advantage.

“At Loudon, we expect to be fast,” Logano continued. “Paul has always had fast cars here. Compared to the last few years, our cars have been really fast. We haven’t capitalized on it, but we’ve had speed good enough to win the last few races here.”

That last sentence carries weight. Sometimes in racing, you can have all the speed in the world, but circumstances conspire against you. Equipment failures, pit road penalties, or simply being in the wrong place when someone else makes a mistake can derail even the best-laid plans.

Sunday’s Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher

The Round of 12 begins with this race, meaning four more drivers will see their championship hopes end after three races. Starting from pole position gives Logano the best possible chance to control his own destiny, but New Hampshire has a way of creating its own drama regardless of where you start.Team Penske has the cars.

They have the strategy. Most importantly, they have drivers who’ve proven they can perform when the pressure reaches its peak. Sunday afternoon will reveal whether all those elements come together when it matters most.The Connecticut kid is ready. His fans are ready. The only question left is whether the rest of the field is ready for what Joey Logano might have in store on race day.