Team Penske rule as Logano wins third NASCAR title

Joey Logano stole the show in the Arizona desert, holding off his Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race for his third career title.

After passing William Byron by going from fifth to first in one lap following a restart with 54 laps left, Logano kept his No. 22 Ford out front in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, winning by 0.33 seconds over defending champion Blaney.

The victory gave owner Roger Penske his third straight Cup title in addition to this year's Rolex race at Daytona and the Indianapolis 500.

Logano was inserted into the championship playoffs after Alex Bowman was disqualified following the regular-season finale Southern 500 at Darlington.

He parlayed that into his third title - also winning it in 2018 and 2022 - and became the 10th racer all-time to win at least three Cup crowns.

"I love the playoffs," said Logano, 34, who led 99 laps and won three of the 10 playoff races.

What a race and what a Team Penske battle there at the end. I had a good restart and was able to get in front of the 12 (of Blaney). We had long-run speed there and it was all I had to hold him off."

Byron, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell completed the top five in the four-caution race. Title contender Tyler Reddick was sixth.