"Surreal to imagine": Joey Logano ponders his budding racing days at Atlanta after coming across childhood memories
Two-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano took a trip down memory lane when he uncovered some photos from his younger days of racing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The driver of the #22 Team Penske Ford found the photos days after winning the NASCAR playoff opener at Atlanta.
The 34-year-old took to his personal X account to share the pictures he found of his younger self, saying how appropriate it was to stumble across them after Sunday's victory.
"I came across these photos last night from back in the day when I raced at Atlanta Motor Speedway," Joey Logano wrote. "Surreal to imagine how we went from those days to celebrating on NASCAR's highest stage."
Logano said in the post that he recalls those days as a youngster as if they were yesterday. The 34-time Cup Series race winner knew he would be standing at AMS Victory Lane some day.
"I recall [staring] at Victory Lane inside AMS and saying to myself, 'one day, I'll park my car right there!'"
The post sparked much admiration from some of Logano's supporters, with one fan writing:
"You parked it Joey! What a story."
"Memories do come true," wrote another user.
"What a ride. Cherish every second," said a third.
Joey Logano has now done that two times in his career. The first time being in March 2023 after passing Brad Keselowski, a former Team Penske teammate, on the last lap to snag the win. The other came this past Sunday, as he held off a hard-charging Daniel Suarez and Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney for victory. With the victory, Logano has clinched a spot in the upcoming Round of 12 of the playoffs.
Joey Logano seeking third championship this season
The youngest Cup Series race winner knows what it feels like to win the pinnacle of NASCAR, having already done so two times. After advancing to the Round of 8 in 2018, Logano advanced to the Championship 4 after executing the bump-and-run on Martin Truex Jr. to win at Martinsville. He wheeled his Shell Pennzoil car past Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch in the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to claim the title.
Logano made another Championship 4 appearance in 2020, but ultimately settled for third that year behind Keselowski and champion Chase Elliott. He made it back to the Championship 4 in 2022 and earned the win at Phoenix Raceway in the final race to become a two-time champion, besting Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Elliott for the crown.
Joey Logano failed to make it out of the first round in last year's playoffs. This season, he's tallied two victories. The first being at Nashville in June, the other being last Sunday at Atlanta.