The 2024 NASCAR Cup season ended with a seismic shock as Joey Logano and Team Penske snatched the championship in a finale that left many questioning the legitimacy of the playoff format. While fans and critics alike debated whether Logano’s triumph, following a lackluster regular season, was a fair outcome, veteran Denny Hamlin waded into the controversy with some pointed insights.
Hamlin, who drives the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, addressed the issue on his podcast Actions Detrimental, dissecting the uproar surrounding NASCAR’s playoff structure and Logano’s unexpected rise to the top. In his characteristic no-holds-barred style, Hamlin didn’t shy away from calling out the system while defending Logano’s championship win as legitimate.
“Does the Format Devalue the Regular Season?”
Hamlin opened by addressing the elephant in the room: the perceived unfairness of the current playoff format. Logano’s 2024 championship came after a season where other drivers, including several with far superior consistency and performance, failed to even make the finale.
“It seems as though this format is delegitimizing the regular season,” Hamlin remarked. “You’ve got to give Joey Logano his due because he executed the best that day. But is that what we want? One race deciding it all after months of hard work?”
Hamlin hinted at NASCAR’s willingness to tweak the playoff system, noting comments from officials about potential changes while reaffirming the playoffs are here to stay. “They left the window open to ‘we could tweak,’” he said. “What does that mean? Because right now, it’s a format that’s creating chaos.”
The Sandbagging Accusation
Amid the swirling controversy, some have accused Team Penske of “sandbagging” during the regular season—intentionally underperforming to save their best for the playoffs. Hamlin flatly rejected these claims, pointing to the rigorous car inspections conducted by NASCAR throughout the year.
“Nobody would have speed and not show it throughout the season or playoffs,” Hamlin argued. “We’ve seen championships come down to a point here or there. NASCAR inspects the cars all year long. Unless they tell us otherwise, you’ve got to assume everything’s legit.”
Hamlin’s defense of Logano and Team Penske underscores the respect he holds for their ability to capitalize on the playoff system, even if it leaves other competitors feeling shortchanged.
A Call for Balance
While Hamlin praised Logano’s ability to deliver when it mattered most, he expressed concern about the playoff format’s impact on the sport’s credibility. By focusing so heavily on a single race to crown the champion, NASCAR risks alienating fans who value the hard-fought consistency of the regular season.
“I would’ve been fine with either Logano or Blaney winning the championship that day,” Hamlin said. “But we’ve got to ask if this is the best way to determine the champion of the sport.”
What’s Next for NASCAR?
As NASCAR prepares for the 2025 season, the playoff format debate looms large. Hamlin’s comments highlight a critical question for the sport: Can NASCAR strike the right balance between the drama of a playoff system and the meritocracy of a full-season performance?
For now, the 2024 championship has left a bitter aftertaste for some, but Hamlin’s level-headed take serves as a reminder that every system has its strengths and flaws. Whether NASCAR tweaks its playoff format or doubles down on the current model, one thing is certain—the debate isn’t going away anytime soon.
