\n Change your timezone:
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n
Joey Logano<\/a> is be a three-time NASCAR Cup Series<\/a> champion, but his route to a fourth championship just got a whole lot harder.
<\/b><\/p>\n \nThe 35-year-old Middletown, Connecticut native claimed titles in 2018, 2022 and 2024 and became widely known as the king of the sport\u2019s much-maligned playoff format.
<\/p>\n \nHis postseason luck would run out at Darlington on Sunday night though as the Team Penske<\/a> superstar began his postseason run in miserable fashion.
<\/p>\n \nLogano qualified down in 14th position on Saturday, and things would get no better in the race proper as he brought the No. 22 Ford car home in 20th position<\/a><\/b>. Chase Briscoe would claim the win.
<\/p>\n \nIt was a highly disappointing start for Logano as he begins his run for what he hopes will be a fourth Cup Series championship, and it now places him at peril of an early exit.
<\/p>\n \nREAD MORE:<\/b> NASCAR officials penalize multiple playoff stars at Darlington<\/a>
<\/p>\n Logano on the need for speed<\/p>\n \n\u201cWe just didn\u2019t go fast. Just couldn\u2019t get a handle on the car,\u201d said Logano after the race.
<\/p>\n \n\u201cEither the front was plowing or the rear was loose and sometimes I had both at the same time.\u201d
<\/p>\n \nBefore the weekend Logano had a terrific record at Darlington – with one victory and nine top-10 finishes since 2015. So this very average showing has left the team shocked.
<\/p>\n \nREAD MORE:<\/b> NASCAR officials penalize multiple playoff stars at Darlington<\/a>
<\/p>\n Darlington form deserts Joey<\/p>\n \n\u201cIt\u2019s not what we were expecting,” Logano explained.
<\/p>\n \n“This has been a good track for us over the last 10 years. We just missed it. It was surprising.
<\/p>\n \n“I thought we\u2019d be able to run in the top 10 just off of history, but everyone got better, and we didn\u2019t.\u201d
<\/p>\n