NASCAR: Defeated Logano still backs new Chase

Joey Logano still believes the revamped NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase format is good for the sport even though he would have been 2014 champion under the old system.

Had the original Chase format been retained, Logano would have denied Harvick by eight points. He admitted that it was hard to feel positive in the immediate aftermath, but that he still regarded 2014 as a breakthrough season for him and a positive one for NASCAR.

"It was an awesome experience," said Penske driver Logano. "This is the first time I've had a shot at winning a championship. It's the first time I've won more than one race in a season. It's been a spectacular year.

"I've a biased opinion right now, and I'm probably too close to the fire to comment much about how it went. As the car that scored more points than anyone in the Chase, it's hard to say you're in love with it, but I do think it was a good thing for the sport.

"I think the race was very exciting and it was just unfortunate that we didn't execute. It was a great experience."

Fellow defeated title contender Denny Hamlin led a large portion of the race but faded to seventh at the finish when he stayed out on old tires while others made additional pit stop for fresh rubber. But having not won since Talladega in May, he felt that having such a strong shot at the title was a triumph in itself.

"There's not one thing I would have done different," he said. "We brought a car that was capable of winning. Sometimes breaks go your way, sometimes they don't. They just didn't go our way.

"I think we overachieved greatly by being here. We haven't had the speed to compete for race wins all year, and we did in the race that really mattered."