TC Daily Pit Stop: Joey Logano Takes Pole for Playoffs Round of 12 Opener; Heim Scores Record-Tying Truck Win

TC Daily Pit Stop: Sunday, September 21, 2025

Sep 21, 2025

Joey Logano took the pole position for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire after turning an incredible lap. — Rob Branning | TobyChristie.com

Joey Logano wasn’t inside the top 10 on the speed chart in NASCAR Cup Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but the defending series champion came to life in qualifying.

Logano, who will look to become the first back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series champion since Jimmie Johnson pulled off his fifth consecutive title in 2010, will start Sunday’s Mobil 1 301 from the pole position after turning a blistering 29.159-second (130.622 mph) lap time.

“I’ve got a great group of guys. [Crew chief] Paul [Wolfe] knows how to help me get the car good to where it needs to be,” Logano said after securing his 33rd career pole. “The guys do a good job of getting the Shell Pennzoil Mustang fast. Man, it’s my home track. It feels so good to run well here. And a good starting spot. Obviously, in the Playoffs, it matters most right now. Hopefully, we’re able to capitalize tomorrow. We’ve got a good pit stall if nothing else.”

Ryan Blaney, Logano’s Team Penske teammate, helped the organization sweep the front row in qualifying, but was stunned that he was 0.170 seconds off the time set by Logano.

Here are the top 10 starters for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire. In all, six Playoff drivers qualified inside the top 10.

FULL OFFICIAL STARTING LINEUP
PRACTICE RESULTS

Corey Heim Ties Single-Season Win Record with New Hampshire Victory

Corey Heim continues to build accolades that will make his 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season one to remember for years to come. On Saturday afternoon, the driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota dominated by leading 124 of the 175 laps in the Team EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to take his ninth win of the year.

The win ties Greg Biffle’s all-time series single-season win record, which was set in 1999.

“It’s a dream come true to be able to race with these guys. It seems like everywhere we go this year, we’re either a contender or we win, so I just can’t say enough about those guys,” Corey Heim said post-race. “Going to keep it going, like you said, we’ve got four more races left and want to break that record — shoutout Greg Biffle, he’s a great dude — and I want to be able to kind of compete with that with him.”

In addition to leading the most laps, Heim swept the Stage 1 and 2 wins, and turned the Xfinity Fastest Lap in the race.

However, in the closing laps, he did have to hold off a hard-charging Chandler Smith, who needed a win to advance to the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs.

“I feel like it’s a little bittersweet, to be honest with you,” Smith said post-race. “I had a fast truck that was capable of winning. I started hauling butt there at the end and running down the 11, but it wasn’t in the Lord’s Will today, honestly. I pulled everybody together before the race. We prayed together, and I wanted to let them know that I’m proud of them, no matter the outcome today.”

NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs Round of 8 Field Set

Chandler Smith and Jake Garcia were both eliminated from the NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs Round of 10 on Saturday at New Hampshire. Here is the Playoff Grid heading into the Round of 8, which begins at the Charlotte Roval.