As the NASCAR season nearly winds down, Ryan Blaney is set to pass on a tradition begun by Jimmie Johnson—writing a note in the Winner’s Journal for the next champion.
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Johnson started the custom after winning his seventh title in 2016. Blaney, having won in 2023, will soon pen his entry, continuing a legacy that saw Joey Logano writing for him last year.
In a candid conversation on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Logano, the 2022 champion, reminisced about handing over the journal to Blaney at the Nashville banquet.
“I told him ‘I said I hope you enjoy having this journal. It’s the last time you’re gonna have it as long as I’m around,’ Which I don’t know if that’s true at all because he is really, really good and I’m sure he is going to win many more. But I thought it was funny,” said the #22 driver.
While inscribing his note in the Winner’s Journal, the 2022 Cup Champion laced his message with humor to ensure it was received in good spirits, adding a playful “Ha ha” to his comment.
He explained, “Sometimes when you write something down the humor doesn’t come through the words. So I was like, I didn’t want it to come across like, ‘Man, this guy’s a real D-bag.’ Ha-ha-ha.”
With a spot already secured in the Championship 4 race at Phoenix, Logano might just find himself reclaiming the journal from Blaney. On the other hand, Blaney, who’s near the bottom of the Round of 8 standings, faces a critical race at Martinsville, a track where he’s previously shown results, boasting the best average finish among all active NASCAR Cup drivers.
The upcoming race will offer him a golden opportunity to turn the tables and perhaps keep the journal for himself.
Previewing the final race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville
As the curtain prepares to close on the Round of 8 at Martinsville, the stakes couldn’t be higher with only two spots left in Championship 4. Logano and Tyler Reddick have already secured their places with victories at Las Vegas and Homestead-Miami, leaving six drivers vying for the remaining entries.
Christopher Bell, sitting comfortably with a 29-point buffer, appears well-positioned to secure a spot. His track record at Martinsville, featuring an average finish of 16.2 and a victory in 2022, makes him a strong contender.
William Byron, who holds a slender 7-point lead over the cutoff, boasts a better average finish of 13.8, adding to the competitive fervor. The drama intensifies knowing that each of the six hopefuls has tasted victory on Martinsville’s half-mile asphalt.
Among them, Denny Hamlin faces a dire scenario; only a win can assure his advancement, while any finish from second to fifth offers a mere 14% shot at progressing.
