CRANDALL: Huddle time for Logano

It should be getting close to panic time in the Joey Logano camp.

The No. 22 Team Penske Ford is the first one on the outside looking for the playoffs. Logano is seven points behind Matt Kenseth in the race for a spot in the post-season. Eight races remain in the regular season, and they could be eight stressful weeks for Logano.

Not only is Logano still fighting for a place in the post-season conversation, but he and crew chief Todd Gordon are also scratching and clawing for decent finishes. And speed. Plenty of speed.

"We got a P8 out of a car that was probably not much better than 13th or 14th," Logano said of his finish at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night. "We just have to get faster. The 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) and 18 (Kyle Busch) were just... we aren't even close.

"We were really slow and need to get faster. That is the biggest thing. We need to pick up some speed. We just were scrapping, trying to get what we can. The team did a good job at least trying to scrap up something out of it, but we just have to get faster than that."

Logano started the year with 250 laps led and eight top-10 finishes in the first 10 races. That includes a win at Richmond International Raceway that a few days later became "encumbered" in accordance with NASCAR's rules after a post-race inspection revealed a violation related to his rear suspension. So although he won the race, it doesn't count toward getting into the playoffs. Hence his current position.

Depending on how the next few weeks play out, Richmond could be the race that haunts Logano. But right now, he's plagued by performance.

Over the last eight weeks, Logano has earned just two top-10 finishes, with a measly seven laps led. Goes without saying that's far from championship caliber.

While a lot can happen between now and the cut-off race at Richmond, the No. 22 team must be feeling the heat. Especially when others also on the outside, such as Erik Jones, are looking better and better every week, and could steal a win soon. Something that would, of course, make Logano's task taller, should another driver leapfrog him into the playoff grid.

However, Logano isn't the only story to watch. For the first time in a couple of seasons the fight for the playoffs is still wide open, and without a doubt, it will come down to the final lap at Richmond. Ten drivers have already locked themselves in through a win. It's a strong possibility we could get to 16 winners – or more, when you look at who hasn't won. Four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, one of which, Matt Kenseth, is hanging onto the final playoff spot by a thread.

Then there's Chase Elliott. Even Jamie McMurray and the aforementioned Jones could break through. Any one of those could turn the title picture on its head with a victory.

Even if they don't, points racing also remains as crucial as ever going forward.

Here's a look at the current playoff grid (those in green are locked in with wins; those in yellow would make it in in on points; those in red are on the outside):

 
Yes, it’s almost panic time for Joey Logano. But he may not be the only one doing so before all is said and done.