After a dramatic 2024 NASCAR Cup season finale, Joey Logano has clinched the championship title and isn’t holding back against critics questioning his win. While some fans and insiders are calling for a reform of the playoff format to ensure the “best driver” statistically wins, Logano remains unfazed, stating he played by the same rules as everyone else—and came out on top.
In a sport where timing is everything, Logano emphasized that the playoff format rewards drivers who peak when it matters most. “The regular season guys, do those guys get an advantage? Absolutely, it’s a pretty big one too,” Logano explained. But he insists that even the best-performing drivers can’t simply “cruise” through the playoffs without risk. “Can you go in cruise control in any other sport through the playoffs? No, you won’t make it to the end.”
The “Noise” of Criticism Doesn’t Phase Logano
Logano admits he hasn’t paid much attention to the social media storm around the playoff system, shrugging off the criticism with a defiant tone: “Why do we need to change that? It makes no sense to me when I hear all of this. But whatever, I got the trophy, and I don’t really care.”
The Double Standard: Why the Format Criticism Doesn’t Stick
Addressing what he sees as a double standard, Logano pointed out that NASCAR’s Truck and Xfinity series use the same playoff format—and fans seem to love it. “We’ve been doing this for 11 years. And everyone thought it was awesome, and now we don’t. What happened? Nothing changed,” he said. As both a driver and a fan, Logano stands by the format, saying, “I think it’s awesome. I love it.”
For Logano, this championship win is a testament to his ability to perform when it counts. Racing in the Next-Gen era, where strategic timing and peak performance are essential, he believes his victory is well-earned, regardless of the criticism swirling around the format.
As NASCAR faces continued debate over its playoff rules, Logano’s victory is sure to spark more conversations. For now, he’s happy to let the trophy speak for itself.
