The use of NASCAR’s soft compound red option tires made for some interesting tire strategy during the race at Phoenix over the weekend. There were several different approaches. Joey Logano and Ty Dillon were two of the drivers that used very different strategies from the rest of the field.

It's been a difficult start to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season for reigning champion Joey Logano. Despite having good speed, Logano became the first

Joey Logano is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. He last hoisted the Bill France Cup just four months ago in Phoenix. On Sunday, the Team Penske driver, who qualified second, started on the front row in his return to the desert.

Joey Logano seemed like a man on a mission at the beginning of this past weekend’s race at Phoenix Raceway. However, that all changed when NASCAR controversially penalized him for a restart during Stage 1.

Team Penske's Joey Logano pitches in on the long-standing debate of whether NASCAR drivers can be considered athletes or not.

Joey Logano already had an affinity for Phoenix Raceway. The Team Penske driver had won on the mile oval three times, including the 2022 Cup Series title, and had 15 top-10 finishes in 31 races since 2009.