Joey Logano has good reason to like the playoffs, which have been some extent of contention amongst fans for years. It suits his driving style, and as he'll inform you, the No. 22 Penske Ford driver only gets higher under tremendous pressure, which was clearly seen after he walked away with a victory within the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday.
However, people were particularly uncomfortable this yr as Logano's average rating this yr was 17.1, currently the worst rating ever for the Cup champion. The previous record was set only a yr ago by teammate Ryan Blaney, who averaged 14.1 en path to the 2023 title.
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang
Photo: NASCAR Media
However, each drivers still won when it mattered, while the title favorites didn’t achieve this. Logano jumped into the playoffs with one win, then followed it up with three more victories in Round 16, Round 8, and Round 4 of the Championship. Logano raced in keeping with the principles of the format presented to him and in his mind. it isn’t any different than every other major sport in America.
“As for your opinion on the championship and what it is, the only reason it isn't said about other sports is because they haven't changed the playoff system,” Logano said. “But the playoff system in other sports is just not much different from the present one. You can have an incredible regular season. This will enable you higher prepare for the playoffs. This doesn't mean you're guaranteed to go all of the approach to the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup Finals, or the NBA Finals. This may enable you. In NASCAR now we have the identical rules now, you position yourself significantly better.
“It's a load of bullshit”
He also noted that there have been drivers like Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson who entered the playoffs with significantly more bonus points than him. “They have the same chance to go out there, win and go to the next round,” said Logano, who also needed to make up more ground than those drivers to get to the identical spot.
“So if anyone says it's not true, I feel it's a load of bullshit. That's not true. It's something everyone knows the principles about originally of the season. We found out do it best and win. This is what our team has achieved over the past three years.
While this format is common in stick-and-ball sports, it remains to be quite alien in most motorsports. The NHRA has been running its own version of the playoffs since 2007, and Australian Supercars will introduce a NASCAR-like knockout system in 2025. Moreover, they’re still mainly seasonal systems world wide.
Times are changing
Logano's final message on the matter was easy: Times are changing. However, NASCAR has had a playoff system for 20 years and the present format for a decade, but people still compile point standings based on past Winston Cup points – a post on .
“…People who just have to accept these times,” Logano added. “Times are changing, aren't they? And I don't know if without the playoff system that now we have, you’ll have lots of the moments like now we have today. Do you ought to see the champions crowned with three races to go? Because that's the way it was. It's really boring. You have moments when you have got to make a choice: “do it or die.” The last 10 weeks have been under the pressure of all these items.
“You have this plot. How many stories could we create? It's amazing. It makes me indignant that folks are complaining. It annoys me after I hear this. Damn, that is amazing. I watch the Xfinity and Truck Series, and it's hard for me to speak concerning the Cup Series because I'm in it, but I watch it as a fan, either from the booth or simply on TV like I did last night. These are the funny things I'm glued to on my TV, especially within the playoffs than within the regular season. What's improper with that? Damn, I don't know. It pisses me off, I'm not sorry.
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang
Photo: NASCAR Media
Logano also identified that trying to find hypothetical points is pointless since the races could be completely different on this format. While this discussion won't end anytime soon, the very fact is that NASCAR won’t ever come back, and its newly crowned, three-time champion of this playoff era has no problem with that.
“I actually have a reasonably sweet trophy now. I'll be laughing all of the approach to the bank.”
