CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 16: (L-R) Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 Cherry 5-Hour Energy/Special Operations Warrior Foundation Toyota, Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Patriotic Chevrolet, Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 Ortho Ford, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, stand on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 16, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Struggling driver, on the cusp of missing the playoffs, believes he can turn things around


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Since Joey Logano's encumbered victory at Richmond earlier this season, he has had more finishes outside of the top-20 than he has inside the top-10.

It's been a rough stretch to say the least for Logano, who is unlikely to make the postseason unless he wins one of the final two races of the year at Darlington and Richmond.

Logano told NBC Sports that he's still optimistic about his chances despite his recent struggles.

"I feel like we've got to go," Logano said. "Obviously, we don't have an option at this point. It's nice to have an off weekend, regroup, catch our breath and figure out how we're going to attack these next couple of weeks. We have to win. We have to make it happen one way or another.

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"We've been in this position before. We've been put in this position that we have to win multiple times the last few years during the playoffs and we've been able to do it. It's no different than that. We've just got to be ready to execute when the opportunity strikes."

Related: Flashback Friday: Remembering when Joey Logano, Kyle Busch brawled in NASCAR Kobalt 400

Logano already has a win at Richmond this season, so him winning there again this year wouldn't be totally unexpected. But the pressure is certainly on with two races to go, and it's likely he misses the postseason cut.

Logano did say that whenever he can break through for another win, he thinks it will be the start of a hot streak.

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"I feel like our team is going to get back there, hopefully it's in the next few races," Logano said. "If not, we're going to get back there before the year is out. Hopefully, we're in the playoffs when it happens.

"You've got to stay confident in your abilities and stay confident in your race team and their abilities and make sure you stick together and don't start pointing fingers here or there. It's win as a team and lose as team."

Logano is 14th in the standings, but he is 117 points behind Jamie McMurray for the last playoff spot. He would have to jump McMurray and Clint Bowyer, so he will almost certainly need a victory in the last two races.

(h/t NBC Sports)

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