A Champion Under Scrutiny
Fans have long scrutinized Joey Logano's three Cup Series championships, pointing out that he never led the series in total points and that the playoff structure from 2014 to 2025 gave him a pathway to titles despite modest regular‑season finishes.
In 2024 Logano finished 15th in the regular standings, survived a chaotic race at Charlotte Motor Speedway's Roval where he crossed the line 20th but called it a championship‑type performance, and then rode a fuel‑mileage strategy through five overtimes to clinch a playoff spot. After being reinstated following a disqualification of another competitor, he ultimately captured the title even though he placed outside the top ten in the final points tally.
The sport has now reverted to the classic “Chase” format that prevailed from 2004 to 2013, a change that many observers believe would have limited Logano to four championships over the past decade. His recent outings tell a different story: finishes of 30th, 39th (DNF), 37th (DNF) and 38th have left him 38 points below the playoff cut line and 42 points adrift of teammate Austin Cindric.
Clint Bowyer, himself a former driver‑turned‑analyst, recently remarked that a three‑time champion “surely he's gonna figure out how to get to the playoffs. But maybe not,” a comment that sparked a wave of online mockery after Logano referred to his 20th‑place run at the Roval as a championship‑worthy effort.
The criticism underscores a broader shift in how championships are perceived; with the new format, titles carry less weight when built on a handful of small‑sample performances. For Logano, consistency has become the only reliable path forward, and his current streak of six finishes of 30th or worse suggests that a return to the playoffs may hinge on a dramatic turnaround.