Joey Logano, the captain of Team Penske, is one of the best drivers in NASCAR history having three Championships from the Cup Series under his belt. However, Logano might never have received all the accolades if not for one man—Brad Keselowski.
Keselowski took Logano under his wing for Team Penske back in 2012 when the latter was struggling to make a name for himself in Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Keselowski’s decision to bring in Logano would not only change Logano’s career but also make Team Penske a household name.
Joey Logano’s Underwhelming State in JGR
Joey Logano is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion today, but more than a decade ago, his future in racing was hanging in the balance. Logano was not performing well at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) from 2009 to 2012 with lackluster results. He was at risk of losing his seat on JGR as the team eyed replacing him with the veteran Matt Kenseth.
Amid the confusion, Brad Keselowski saw Logano’s potential and was the champion for his inclusion in Team Penske. As the defending Cup Series champion of 2012, Keselowski approached team owner Roger Penske and recommended that he sign Logano as an important asset. While talking with Roger Penske, Keselowski passionately fought to sign Logano, seeing potential in him and as an ideal addition to the team.
“Brad Keselowski was the one that came to me and said, ‘Look, we should get Logano to run with us,’” Penske recently revealed on Happy Hour with Kevin Harvick.
At first, the move wasn’t set in stone. JGR’s Joe Gibbs asked Penske to wait, suggesting there might still be a Cup ride for Logano within the organization. Penske agreed to wait but with no guarantees. “I waited a week with my fingers crossed,” Penske recalled.
That patience paid off. When JGR ultimately decided to part ways with Logano, Penske swooped in, signing the young driver for the 2013 season.
Logano’s Transformation Under Penske
Logano’s arrival at Team Penske marked the true beginning of his rise to the top of NASCAR. Within his first year, he won at Michigan and made the playoffs. In 2015, he broke out with six victories. Then, in 2018, he cemented his legacy by winning his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.
The success didn’t stop there. Logano added another championship in 2022 and has helped Team Penske secure multiple titles, including Ryan Blaney’s 2023 triumph.
Beyond the wins, Penske highlighted Logano’s growth into a team leader. “He had one goal, and that was to be a leader… he understands that we’re running three cars and only one can win. But if the team wins, he wins.”
That leadership was on display at the 2025 Daytona Duel, where Logano chose to push teammate Austin Cindric to victory rather than force a risky move for himself.
Keselowski’s initial recommendation proved to be a defining moment for Logano and Team Penske. Without that push, Logano’s career might have taken a different path, and Penske may not have won three of the last six Cup Series titles. Now, with Logano still at the peak of his career, one thing is clear—Brad Keselowski’s influence on Penske’s success is still being felt today.
