Joey Logano’s Controversial NASCAR Championship Win: Rising Above the Criticism to…read more
Joey Logano’s latest NASCAR Cup Series championship win has stirred up some controversy, with some fans claiming that his victory was undeserved due to his inconsistent performance across the season. Logano finished the 2024 season with an average position of 17.1—the lowest season-long finishing average ever recorded by a NASCAR champion. Despite this, Logano clinched his third title with four race wins, plus an All-Star victory. This season’s outcome underscores the intense nature of NASCAR’s Playoff points system, which has been pushing for such “Game 7 moments” since it was introduced in 2004.
Many fans argue that Logano’s win feels like a fluke because of his season-long average. However, his victory came as a result of his strong postseason push, a comeback that’s exactly the kind of story NASCAR’s Playoff structure was designed to celebrate. Though Team Penske isn’t exactly an underdog team, Logano’s ability to rise to the occasion during the playoffs made him a worthy champion in the eyes of many. His championship performance also may have looked better if he hadn’t been taken out by Austin Dillon at Richmond, which impacted his overall finishing average.
Logano responded to the criticism by defending the Playoff system, comparing it to other sports: “In other sports, having a great regular season doesn’t guarantee you’ll go all the way. It just seeds you better. NASCAR is the same way now. You set yourself up to compete in the playoffs, but you’re not guaranteed anything.” This perspective highlights NASCAR’s focus on postseason performance over season consistency.
Ultimately, despite some fan backlash, Logano’s ability to succeed in the high-stakes playoff environment and capture his third Cup Series title shows he played by the rules—and won fair and Square.
