Let’s go back to Charlotte Roval. It’s the cutoff race to qualify for the Round of 8, and Joey Logano is running in 8th place. To qualify, he needs to finish higher and beat Tyler Reddick in the standings, but he couldn’t do it, especially with road course maestro Shane van Gisbergen ahead of him. His hopes are finished, and finishing ahead of him is Alex Bowman. Things couldn’t change, could they?
Well, the racing gods had something different planned. As Logano recalled at the time, “I heard rumors before that of a delay in tech and some of those things going on. Usually nothing happens and so I was kind of surprised to hear that. Typically, by the time you roll the car off the scales to give them the opportunity to put weight in the car, it’s usually fine.”
There was something in the air. Bowman would be sent to be weighed and come up underweight. The driver was going to be disqualified, and Logano was back in the fight. What that kicked off was a championship-winning run that would see Logano return to the White House to celebrate his championship with President Trump. And in such a season, you’d think moments on the track would be what Logano remembers, right? But that’s not it.
But the heart of Logano’s 2024 story lies with Liam, a seven-year-old fan battling cancer, whose brief but profound connection with #22 driver gave the season an emotional depth. Logano shared the story on Marty Smith’s show in a conversation, heavy with feeling. “Well, if you’ve got time for a quick story, I’ll tell you the whole story. We’re driving home after the race. Ray, we just learned that we’re not going to make it in. I’ll tell you, that kind of sucks, right? You’re hurt, bummed out, season’s kind of over. But there’s this kid, Liam, that came to the racetrack that I’ve been wanting to meet for years. He’s been fighting cancer… I didn’t know he was there. My wife saw it on Facebook that he was there, and I had her reach out to his mom…” But there’s more to the story.
Asked Joey Logano how he reacted last fall to learning he was back in the NASCAR playoff, after Alex Bowman’s car was too light in post race inspection at Charlotte.
A beautiful story. @joeylogano pic.twitter.com/zeRhmxlyrS
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) May 17, 2025
He further revealed, “They came over after the race. We’re hanging out. My son and him, they’re playing foosball, playing Nerf Wars through the house, having a good time. Roger calls me, Roger Penske. And he’s like, hey, you’re back in. And I’m like, what? So I walked out of the room and I said, hey, you guys aren’t going to believe it. We’re back in… So if you fast forward the story… We won in Texas a couple weeks ago. Two hours later, Liam passed away. One of the last things his mom posted on Facebook was that his last couple hours, his last piece of joy was sitting on the couch with his mom watching his favorite driver win the race.”
When Joey Logano went to Texas Motor Speedway, he won the Wurth 400. It was a race that saw him lead just 7 laps and fend off a fierce challenge from Ross Chastain at the end, and little Liam wasn’t just watching the race; he brought the luck to Logano. The No. 22 driver hadn’t won a race all season, and his performances were weighing down Team Penske. But when Logano raced at Texas with a special sticker paying a tribute to the young fan, the Penske driver found his footing. It seems that after their first meeting all those months ago, Liam had brought with him another chance for Logano. To hear that the young fan passed weighed heavily on Joey Logano.
“It just put everything into perspective for me, that there’s just something bigger,” he said, “The reason why things would happen, that win wasn’t just for our race team and our race fans. That was for Liam.” The call from Mr. Penske at Martinsville, reinstating #22, felt like more than chance—it was as if fate had aligned to give Liam one last moment of happiness. That Texas win, watched by Liam and his mom, became a memory Logano treasures, tying it to the championship he’d later win.
And his gesture for a young fan is a reminder of the kind heart Logano has. While he’s faced a lot of hate and criticism after the 2024 win, Logano has proven himself off the track. The Joey Logano Foundation has provided over $5 million to organizations globally in support of children and young adults. When Hurricane Helene hit last year, Logano donated trucks to victims as they rebuilt.
Liam’s final cheer and the improbable Martinsville lifeline made this championship a testament to grit and heart. As Logano gears up to defend his All-Star Race title in 2025, the memory of Liam and the 2024 season will stay with him, a reminder of why he races.
How Joey Logano’s All-Star title defence is coming along?
NASCAR fans, brace yourselves—the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway just got a whole lot crazier. Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith now has the power to throw a “promoter’s caution” flag anytime between laps 100 and 220 of the 250-lap, million-dollar showdown. This never-before-seen rule could turn the race upside down, and reigning Cup Series champ Joey Logano’s got mixed feelings about it. “It’s an interesting way to do it,” he told reporters, “The All-Star Race presents the opportunity to do things outside of the box. I’m not really sure how I feel about that part of it, but at least we know it’s coming, right? And we can plan around it.”
This isn’t just another race; it’s a test of nerve, skill, and strategy. Logano’s approach is clear: balance instinct with calculation. “There’s a lot of opportunity there with different strategies.” he said. For fans, this rule promises edge-of-your-seat action. Will Logano outsmart the field, or will the tire gamble bite him? With his experience and cool-headedness, Logano’s a favorite, but in this wild new format, anything can happen. Get ready because NASCAR’s All-Star Race is about to deliver a heart-pounding spectacle. Can Logano conquer the chaos two in a row?
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