The NASCAR playoffs are a brutal gauntlet, and Darlington’s Southern 500 was a harsh wake-up call for Team Penske, the powerhouse squad known for its championship pedigree. Joey Logano, the defending Cup Series champion and Penske’s flag-bearer , kicked off his title defense in stunningly poor fashion, limping to a 20th-place finish. His No. 22 Ford was a beast to tame, either plowing through corners or sliding loose, sometimes both at once.

“We just didn’t go fast. Just couldn’t get a handle on the car,” Logano admitted, his frustration palpable. “Either the front was plowing or the rear was loose and sometimes I had both at the same time.” On a track where he’s racked up one win and nine top-10s since 2015, this flop was a head-scratcher. “This has been a good track for us over the

See Full Page