Boxengasse » the Dead, a traditional Mexican holiday,

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Joey Logano still has a youthful exuberance -- the kind of guy who would watch Boy Meets World to relax the night before a championship race. He is still as goofy as he was when he broke into NASCAR as its next big phenom the day he turned 18.His carefree demeanor off the track belies the fact that, eight seasons later, he has developed into a cutthroat driver with a win-at-all-costs approach.Logano is so different now from the wide-eyed kid who was unexpectedly promoted into Tony Stewarts ride with Joe Gibbs Racing for his first full season. Hes raced for and lost a championship, hes feuded with top drivers, hes worked hard to shake the label as a spoiled daddys boy who coasted to the top.It took a second chance at only 22 given by Roger Penske for Logano to flourish, in and out of the race car. He doesnt care who is mad at him, hes not here to make friends. Logano is here to win races, and he lets very little get in his way.I wouldnt say I wasnt mature for my age, but Ive got more experience now doing what Im doing and racing up front and racing the best, he told The Associated Press. As you get older, you go through stages, right? You get married, and then you are married for a while and are getting your life going, then you take the next steps after that.Not only from a racing side of things, but from a business side of the sport, Ive become way more involved in that and understanding what it takes. I think thats kind of changed my attitude at the race track. Im still Joey, though. I still like watching funny TV shows, I still want to get my mind off of things. But I am more aware of whats going on in my mind, what Im conscious about, what am I thinking about and how to become the best.Logano made it to the 2014 championship race and withstood a barrage of needling from Kevin Harvick to have a shot at the title. But a slow pit stop ended his championship chances. He would have made it back to the finale last year, but he was adamantly unapologetic about his role in an accident with Matt Kenseth that virtually ended Kenseths Chase.Viewed by Kenseth and many of his peers as arrogant over the incident, Kenseth intentionally wrecked Logano weeks later and that stopped Logano from advancing to the finale.The experience eventually became a lesson for Logano (who indeed did watch Boy Meets World the night before the 2014 championship).He knows now that he should have called Kenseth to triage any bad blood. In fact, Logano uses everything as a learning experience, part of the playbook that has shaped him into the husband and racer he is today.Penske marvels at the leader Logano has become.We moved on, and quite honestly, I think Joey and Matt have worked it out on the racetrack, and hopefully personally and professionally they know how to do their jobs, Penske said.Far from the most dominant driver in this Chase, Logano twice won elimination races in these playoffs to advance to the next round. Rescued last week by a late caution in a race that could have eliminated him,, he went on to win and earn the spot Sunday against defending series champion Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson. He is trying to become the first Ford driver to win the title since Kurt Busch in 2004, the first year of the Chase.Joey is phenomenal about elevating, Penske said. Theres very few professional athletes that can elevate to that level when the pressure comes on, and Joey has done it time and time again.Hes the example for his No. 22 team and sets the tone for crew chief Todd Gordon.Like Logano, Gordon has lost a championship and that 2014 experience has allowed for a far more relaxed approach to this weekend. But its Logano who has told the team this race is no different than the other 37 on the schedule.Its a normal race weekend, Logano said. We go to win every weekend, and Im not going to change what we do just because whats on the line.He credits heavily his experience in the 2014 finale for his current mindset, and flatly dismisses the idea that someone has to lose a championship race to win one.Im very different, in a good way, though, he says.His experience, the infectious work ethic and leadership of Penske and that confidence -- he believes hes the best driver on the track.Its no secret in NASCAR racing that experience means a lot. Being able to go through Homestead once, being able to race for a championship, I think is key, he said. Ive talked a lot about that race, and said, `I hope Im in that position again someday, because I know how to handle the race, I know how to prepare for the race, I know how to race in the race.Weve done one before. Any time youve been somewhere before, you feel more confident, you feel like you are ready for the situation ahead of you, you know whats coming at you and you are ready to deal with it. Saquon Barkley Giants Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Carl Banks Jersey . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Dalvin-Tomlinson-Jersey/ . 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Both times.Bledsoe dropped in a rainbow 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer, giving the Suns a 118-115 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.He had also scored a go-ahead basket with 1.1 seconds left in regulation.Bledsoe finished with 20 points, his only 3 of the night being the game-winner. The shot, made over the outstretched arms of Blazers star guard Damian Lillard, gave the Suns their first win of the season.I wanted the ball, Bledsoe said. I was just going to get whatever they gave me. The shot was there, I took the shot and just took it with confidence, and you live with the results.The Suns, who made 6 of 10 shots and both free throws in overtime, got 27 points from T.J. Warren and 18 from Alex Len while center Tyson Chandler had 18 rebounds.Phoenix outscored Portland 62-38 in the paint. The Blazers played the second of back-to-back games after a home loss to Golden State on Tuesday.The Suns went ahead by six points with 38.5 seconds left in overtime, but the Blazers tied it at 115 when Lillard scored and was fouled with 6.4 seconds.Lillards 27 points led the Blazers, with C.J. McCollum adding 24.We played good defense, he just made a tough shot, Lillard said.I dont know what Bledsoe shot from the field (7 of 20) but Ill take that shot every day of the week, McCollum said.Bledsoes layup with 1.1 seconds left in regulation gave the Suns a 103-101 lead, but after a timeout, Mason Plumlee inbounded to Meyers Leonard for a layup at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.To be in two overtime games (this season) against playoff teams, theres no better experience for such a young group, Suns coach Earl Watson said. Today was the first time I really felt like we actually became a family.The Blazers took a 90-83 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Suns came back to take a 93-92 lead on Warrens running bank shot with 2:47 to play.Suns guard Devin Booker, who missed Mondays game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a toe injury, returned to the starting lineup and finished with 15 points on 6-of-115 shooting.ddddddddddddPortland led for much of the second quarter and went ahead 50-43 on Maurice Harkless 3-pointer with 4:07 left. The Suns responded by going on a 10-0 run capped off by Bledsoes layup and free throw and led 57-53 at halftime.The Suns took a 76-73 lead into the fourth quarter.TIP-INSBlazers: C Festus Ezeli remains out with a left knee injury. ... No Blazer saw more time on the court than Lillards 40 minutes.Suns: The Suns had been one of the most turnover-prone teams in the NBA, averaging 16 per game entering Wednesday. They committed only 12 against the Blazers.KNIGHT FLIERThe play that energized the Suns comeback late in regulation time was Brandon Knights one-handed throwdown over Turner with 5:41 left in the fourth. It brought the Suns bench and the crowd to its feet.That was a huge play, Len said. Hes just getting healthy ... so now you can see when we get him back, he has athleticism, his bounce back.`DAME TIMELillard is the first NBA player to score 27 or more points in each of his teams first five games since Kobe Bryant did so with the Lakers at the outset of the 2005-06 season. Lillards 163 points in the seasons first five games are the most ever by a Blazer to start a season.FOCUS ON DEFENSEWatson believes the Suns can be a top defensive team in the NBA at some point this season. He said analytics showed they were 13th in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions before Mondays games.We know were going to get better. We understand we just played three of the top four teams in the NBA (Oklahoma City, Golden State, Clippers) so the sample size is too soon to judge, Watson said before Wednesdays game. We believe we can end up top seven easily.CULTURAL CELEBRATIONThe Suns celebrated Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican holiday, to honor their Latino fan base Wednesday night. They wore their purple Los Suns jerseys, a group of mariachis played the national anthem and fans received calavera, or skull head, bobbleheads.UP NEXTBlazers: At Dallas on Friday night.Suns: At New Orleans on Thursday