Joey Logano just clinched his third NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, joining a select group of drivers who have achieved such a feat. Representing Middletown, Connecticut, this victory cements his reputation, yet it has not been without controversy.
Logano outpaced his Team Penske teammate, Ryan Blaney, to secure the title, sealing his place in NASCAR history by becoming the tenth driver to earn three or more championships, following in the footsteps of legends like Tony Stewart.
Despite his success on the track, Logano’s latest championship has drawn skepticism and criticism from certain quarters within the NASCAR fraternity. Critics are quick to point out the disparity between Logano’s championship win and his average finish position of 17.1, which marks the lowest for a NASCAR champion in history. Under a more traditional points system, Logano would have finished the season in 12th place, further fueling arguments about the legitimacy of not only his win, but the Playoff structure employed by NASCAR itself.
In response to the mounting criticism, Logano has remained unapologetic.
James Gilbert/Getty Images
“I’ve got a pretty sweet trophy right now. I’ll be laughing all the way to the bank,” Logano quipped via a press release from the sport.
Logano has also been a vocal advocate for NASCAR’s existing playoff format, likening it to the systems employed in other sports where strategy can outweigh season-long consistency. He contends that NASCAR’s playoff structure rewards teams that excel under this high pressure, akin to playoff runs in the NFL or NBA.
“The only reason why they don’t say this about other sports is because they didn’t change the playoff system.
“It might help you. It’s the same way in NASCAR, the way we have the rules now, is that you set yourself up much better,” Logano stated.
The timing of Logano’s four victories during the season was crucial to his championship bid. Each win was orchestrated to improve his playoff standings: Nashville propelled him into the Playoffs, Atlanta assured his position in the Round of 12, Las Vegas confirmed his spot in the Championship 4, and ultimately, Phoenix sealed the deal.
Team Penske, under the guidance of crew chief Paul Wolfe, has proven instrumental in Logano’s successes. Wolfe’s experience has been crucial, enabling Logano to maximize the current system’s benefits.
“I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team, and together, we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most,” Logano said.
While the traditionalists argue that the system undermines historical ideals of consistency, others recognize it as an evolution within the sport. Logano addressed these issues head-on:
“For someone to say this isn’t real, it’s a bunch of bulls**t in my opinion.
“I don’t like people talking that way because if the rules were the old way, we would play it out differently, wouldn’t we? I just think that’s just a bunch of hearsay back there and people that just got to accept what the times are. Times change, right?” he stated said.