NASCAR Cup Series

“It’s been a really tough season. It’s been a lot of tough luck and a lot of things that just keep happening. You wonder what’s going to happen next. So it’s been a tough season. But through it all, I feel like the team has done a really good job of staying positive, working on race cars and focusing on the things we have learned to try to get better.

"I value the consistency more than I do having a couple top 3 finishes and then running 20th the next week. So, I do. I feel a lot better about where we’re going right now and the direction across the board; our cars are getting more consistent with all four teams. That’s really what I’m basing how we are as a company right now and I think it translates to each individual team, as well.”

“There’s always pressure in this sport, it doesn’t matter what race you go back to, and especially a race you’ve had success at lately. It’s just a fun weekend. I think that’s the key to success we’ve had with my group and the 5-hour ENERGY Toyota is you just got to take this almost as a vacation.

“It is always good to come back to Sonoma. I missed it last year for a good reason, I was winning at Road America (Wisconsin – NASCAR Nationwide Series), so we will just put that out there (laughs). I missed being here. Being a home race for me, it is nice to see my family, and some friends and all that.

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Fusion, is virtually assured of a Chase berth with two victories so far this season. Logano spoke with members of the media before today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice about Sunday’s race at Sonoma Raceway.

“This track is way different than anything we run on because of the elevation changes and then how narrow the course is. Our cars are so big and heavy we need a lot of real estate to slide our vehicles around. It makes a huge challenge and at the end of the day the tires take all the abuse and that is really the magic around here.

“I always look forward to coming out here. First off, it’s a really pretty environment to be at and it’s also maybe one of the more comfortable tracks for me on the circuit. I came here and tested in 2003 and it’s just been a great place for me. I’ve qualified exceptionally well here. I think I finished second here once.

Team Penske has not only been the dominant Ford team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series so far this season, but one of the best in the entire sport. Between drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, Team Penske has won three races and led at least one lap in every race this season (953 combined total).

There is no doubt about it; winning is big in the Cup series this year. Race enough to be deemed a regular, sit among the top 30 in points, and a win pretty much gives one a pass to the promised land. It is exciting and has that all-important unpredictability factor we love.

As rumored last week, Hendrick Motorsports announced today that Panasonic is expanding their relationship with the organization. The new agreement has Panosonic featured as the primary sponsor on Jeff Gordon’s car for this weekend’s race at Sonoma Raceway and the August 31 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.