Captain's Corner: Daytona 500 preview

As part of Motorsport.com’s content partnership with Team Penske, we will provide fans with exclusive content each week from the organization’s drivers, crew members and staff to readers throughout the 2017 season.

This week, we fire three questions each to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski as they prepare to tackle NASCAR’s biggest race – the Daytona 500.

Joey Logano

What’s it like actually winning a Daytona 500?

“Winning the Daytona 500 is an unreal experience. It’s the biggest race in our sport and that’s why teams spend hundreds of man hours on building the perfect car. Even with a perfect car, you need a perfect race to win. The pit stops have to be great because you can’t afford to lose your track position. Your spotter has to help you pick the right lane at the right time, and when it comes down to it, you have to be in the right spot at the exact right time.”

Coolest part of your victory?

“The coolest part about my Daytona 500 win was opening the mail and finding an autographed photo of Mario Andretti. It said: “Congrats Joey! Finally another Italian wins the Daytona 500.” That picture is framed and sits right next to my Harley J Earl Trophy at the house.”

Do you feel confident heading into this year’s race?

“I think everyone at Team Penske has a tremendous amount of confidence going into the Daytona 500. Our restrictor plate program has really emerged the last few years as one of the best in NASCAR. I think we’ve won six of the last nine plate races, and outside of the 500 last year, we swept the plate races in the Cup Series. I also have a teammate who’s really good at restrictor plate racing and I think that helps to elevate the entire program.”

Brad Keselowski

How important was it for you to win the 100^th Cup series race for Team Penske at Daytona last July?

“It was a huge deal – 100 wins for Roger at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series level. I know his next goal will be 200. Someone gave me a stat, over the last two or three years since Joey has been on board, between the two of us, we've won 20 or 30 percent of all the races Penske has ever won in Cup, so we’re certainly in a great spot. But the captain, he likes to look forward, and I think that's a good thing.”

Do you feel this year is your best shot to win the Daytona 500?

“I certainly think this is one of the best shots for the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford team to win the Daytona 500. We had a really, really strong race in 2014. Unfortunately, we had to start in the back and, after the rain delay, we were able to show how strong of a car we had. We just came up a bit short to Dale Jr. But after the year we had on the plate tracks in 2016 I can’t wait to get to Daytona. Talladega had always been a great track for me, but after winning the 400-miler at Daytona in July I believe we have finally broken through there and that gives us a lot of confidence heading into the Daytona 500.”

How was your offseason wedding and honeymoon?

“We could not have had a better wedding and honeymoon. Everyone had a blast at the wedding. Lots of good food, music and dancing. And the honeymoon was a great way to relax and get ready to start the season off the right way. I’m very lucky to have Paige as my wife and my best friend. She does so much for me and our family.”