DARLANDON, S.C. As the NASCAR Cup playoffs get underway, Kyle Busch, one of the sport's most divisive personalities, has been dubbed "charming," creating a gap for the competition's most outspoken driver.
Do not be alarmed; Joey Logano is here.
The 2018 Cup champion, who is aiming for his fifth appearance in the title race, doesn't mind speaking his mind. Whether you concur with him or not is irrelevant. Thank you for being honest.
Logano is one of the favorites because he enters the playoffs trailing only Chase Elliott in the standings.
But he has a slightly different perspective.
I informed my crew on Wednesday that we're the favorites, Logano stated at the NASCAR playoff media day. "I gave reasons for it. Therefore, I don't think it's something we just came up with. You must race with assurance. There is no reason, in my opinion, why we shouldn't do it now.
Logano has that confidence based on the last three races in the regular season. He scored the most points in all three races and won a stage in each (136).
And on Sunday's Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, the playoffs begin (6 p.m. E.T. on USA Network). After pushing William Byron aside in the closing circuits at Darlington in May, Logano won the pole, claimed a stage victory, and drove a race-high 107 laps. The bump happened in response to a late-event call from Byron.
Logano won the starting position for the race on Sunday as a result. As the third starter, Byron will be in the row behind Logano.
Logano was frank when asked if a conversation with Byron was necessary on Saturday.
I don't think dialogue is really necessary, he said. "I assumed everything that occurred here in the spring had been resolved. It's one for the other, tit-for-tat.
You shouldn't tamper with me because I won't back down; I'll repeat what I already said. We should just concentrate on racing in the playoffs and attempting to win championships, in my opinion, since I've done that a lot in my career, and it no longer works that way for me.
"He drives a fantastic automobile. He drives safely. I believe it would be best for both of us to move forward and start racing since he can also stay up there the entire time. In my opinion, the results are equal.
Logano stated emphatically that he was not being arrogant.
When the pressure is on in the playoffs, he remarked, "I don't know whether cocky is the appropriate term, but confidence is something I think is extremely crucial." "I need to believe that I am the best and be able to support that belief."
A potential win Sunday not only would move Logano to the second round but also could send a message to his competitors.
According to Logano, ten weeks is a long period, but it states that you're coming out of the gates strong. "A lot will happen over the next ten weeks, so you simply must perform and exert yourself at that extreme level of intensity. Although it would take a while, there is no reason why we couldn't. We've accomplished it numerous times previously.
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