Yahoo Sports 
Joey Logano: 'We pretty much have to win' at Phoenix
Despite being tied atop the third-round points standings with multiple spots still open in the final round of the Chase, Joey Logano is viewing Sunday’s race at Phoenix in the prism of a must-win.
“We pretty much have to win,” Logano said Friday.
The view is understandable too. Logano is tied with Kyle Busch, another driver who isn’t locked into the final round of the Chase. Matt Kenseth is a point back and Denny Hamlin is two points back. Neither driver won in the third round either and is also attempting to join Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson in the Chase’s final round at Homestead.
Logano needs to finish ahead of Busch, Hamlin and Kenseth. Or, if Kevin Harvick or Kurt Busch don’t win on Sunday, behind just one. Harvick has won five of the last six races at Phoenix, though Logano thinks he’s beatable.
“I will say it seems like he is very fast here but he is also beatable here,” Logano said. “If you look at the spring race [when Harvick held off Edwards by inches following a two-lap sprint], that was pretty close … There have been times that he hasn’t been very strong. He didn’t qualify very well here in the spring race.
“There are a lot of opportunities out there for us and it isn’t a given for him. This garage area is very tough and advantages don’t last very long. Yes, he has had an amazing run here and his advantages have lasted a long time and will still be a car we have to go compete against to beat but we don’t come in here feeling defeated. I feel like my team has everything it takes to beat him.”
– – – – – – –
Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
