As he looks to mount a NASCAR Cup Series championship defense, Joey Logano is preparing for an entirely new season. He’s had to do his best to flush the memories of last season’s thrilling title win.

Logano won his third title in November, sparking debate about whether NASCAR’s current playoff format is the best way to determine the series’ worthiest champion. Few could make a strong case for that being Logano in 2024. He won four races, had 13 top-10 finishes and rarely had the car to beat over 37 events.

The green flag drops on another Cup Series season Sunday night with the exhibition Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

With no changes in sight for now, Logano can focus on a fourth championship. He's one of six drivers with three Cup Series titles and needs another to join Jeff Gordon (four), Dale Earnhardt (seven), Jimmie Johnson (seven) and Richard Petty (seven) as the only guys with at least four. They're all in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Last year was no different. Logano qualified for the playoffs with a win at Nashville Superspeedway in June, outlasting the field on fuel through multiple overtime restarts. But he had only eight top 10s through the 26-race regular season and was 15th in the standings before the playoff reset.

The 34-year-old is coming off his third NASCAR Cup Series title, something just Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart have done since since 2000 and only 10 drivers have accomplished in the