NASCAR star Joey Logano issues surprise verdict on playoff pressure

Three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano has claimed that when others may crumble under the pressure of the playoffs, he thrives.

The Team Penske star heads into Sunday's elimination race at Martinsville (2pm ET, NBC) very much up against it as he looks to defend his Cup Series crown, sitting sixth in the playoff standings and 38 points below the cutoff line.

Only the top four drivers in the standings will advance to the Championship 4 at Phoenix next month, with Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin already locked in thanks to their wins at Talladega and Las Vegas.

Realistically, this leaves Logano - and the other three drivers below the cutoff line ahead of Sunday's race, for that matter - needing a victory if they are to advance.

Logano: Playoff pressure gives me extra motivation

A strong qualifying session on Saturday has given Logano a good shot at doing that, putting his car fourth and set to start on the second row when the green flag drops.

Perhaps that is because Logano claims that when under pressure in the playoffs, he thrives on it, and it gives him extra motivation to perform.

“It affects some people negatively, sure,” Logano said ofn the pressure of the playoffs. “But to me, I’ve found ways to make it affect me in a positive way, where it just helps me find a little bit more.

"It gives me a little extra motivation. It’s a little fire, right? Those things are all good things.

"Some people might overdo it. Some people might do it to where they make mistakes. You see that throughout the playoffs all the time, the way the pressure affects everyone, teams, not just drivers, but teams all the way through. Crew members, the whole nine, everybody.

"That's why I always say I love this format so much because it puts everyone in this crazy, really challenging position.”

NASCAR Cup Series standings ahead of Martinsville

Here is how the full playoff picture looks ahead of this weekend's elimination race.