“For someone to say this isn’t real, it’s a bunch of bulls–t in my opinion,” said the reigning Cup Series champ Joey Logano.

This was when the Team Penske driver was on the receiving end of significant backlash after lifting the Bill France Cup at Phoenix Raceway last year. And in his eyes, the criticism wasn’t just unfair, but downright ridiculous.

Logano rightfully felt that he had ‘earned’ the title under the current playoff system, taking advantage of the ‘win-and-in’ format despite not being one of the most consistent drivers on the grid.

And let’s just accept that it’s no coincidence that Logano has won three championships in seven years. The No. 22 crew has a knack for executing when it matters the most, pulling off clutch performances while others would falter. That’s why the Connecticut-native is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished drivers in the modern era. But for all his accomplishments, why was his championship win last year considered ‘controversial’ to begin with?

The numbers don’t paint a dominant picture

Back in 2021, Kyle Larson won a staggering 10 races in the NASCAR Cup Series to eventually lift the championship for the first time in his career. For fans and other drivers, his dominance was unquestionable, and many felt that ‘Yung Money’ had earned his trophy based on his performances. But when Joey Logano lifted the title at Phoenix Raceway last year, the sentiment was very different.

Joey Logano had only secured one win during the regular season (at Nashville Superspeedway) to qualify for the playoffs, a result that many thought was down to luck. His numbers didn’t show anything out of the ordinary either.

Joey Logano had an average finish of 17.1 in the first 26 races of the 2024 season, the worst of any Cup champion in history. Combine that with seven top-five finishes and 13 top-tens, and it hardly indicates a ‘dominant’ season for the racer. Even his road to the Championship 4 was far from conventional. He started off with a victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but was nearly eliminated in the Round of 12, had it not been for Alex Bowman’s disqualification at the Charlotte Roval. That’s when whispers about the ‘luck’ factor came about.

But Logano wasn’t letting the naysayers get to him. He outlasted his rivals thanks to a solid fuel strategy in Las Vegas to claim another victory and booked his spot at Phoenix Raceway.

And by the time the final race of the season arrived, critics were already pointing out that his shot at the title was down to circumstances rather than on-track performances. And even when Joey Logano won the final race of the campaign, the question marks were raised. Were his performances really championship-worthy, or did he take advantage of a broken playoff system?

1. Championship ≠ Most Wins

The question marks around Joey Logano’s championship triumph ignored a simple truth. The playoff system wasn’t designed to reward consistency to begin with, but to allow drivers who secured clutch results during the final 10 races of the season a shot at the championship.

Under that framework, the No. 22 crew performed their responsibilities flawlessly. Having spent over a decade in the Cup Series, Logano performed clinically, took his opportunities when it mattered the most, while his team devised perfect strategies.

It’s easy to look at statistics and come to the conclusion that his season was ‘average’, but the reality couldn’t be more different. If anything, the No. 22 team knew exactly what needed to be done during the playoffs, as Logano survived eliminations and performed when the margin for error was nonexistent.

NASCAR has always been a sport defined by fine margins, and the racer simply played by the same rules as others and executed his plan to perfection.

2. Timing, Not Luck

Many critics felt that Joey Logano was ‘lucky’ during the playoffs, citing his near-elimination in the Round of 12 as an example. Sure, Alex Bowman’s disqualification paved the way for the Team Penske driver to make his way into the Round of 8, but the No. 48 Chevy failed post-race inspection for a reason.

Perhaps if the vehicle wasn’t underweight, the Hendrick Motorsports driver might not have outperformed Logano at the Roval to begin with. The Team Penske driver put it perfectly later on, saying, “That rule is there for multiple reasons.”

Bowman’s disqualification didn’t magically hand Logano a playoff spot either. He was in a position to capitalize, and his No. 22 Ford didn’t break the rules, making him eligible for the Round of 8. And even then, there was plenty of work to be done.

The racer used all his experience in Las Vegas to conserve his fuel while maintaining speed to outlast his rivals, showing the kind of skill that makes champions. There was no ‘luck’ involved at Phoenix Raceway either, as Joey Logano just executed his strategy perfectly to not just finish higher than Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick, but the rest of the grid as well.

Legacy Angle: Why This One Might Matter Most

Out of Joey Logano’s three championships, this one might be the most significant to his legacy. Back in 2018, he was the ‘underdog’ driver who disrupted the status quo to make his name at the highest level. In 2022, he showed great consistency and speed to dominate at the start of the Next-Gen era, proving just how adaptable he is in different equipment. But in 2024, the Team Penske driver proved that he has the necessary finesse to win championships. He might not have the fastest car, but Logano managed to outthink and outperform his rivals when it mattered the most.

For a driver in the latter stages of his career, being adaptable can be an invaluable skill. Just ask Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch, NASCAR veterans who have been struggling in the Next-Gen era. Last year’s championship win proved that Joey Logano has the necessary skills to cope with the demands of the sport, and he isn’t just reliant on raw speed to get results. Being able to mentally adapt to difficult situations while mastering strategy and securing clutch results is what makes a champion. And that’s what makes him a force to be reckoned with.

Logano even said, “I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team, and together, we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most.” He also addressed the critics who blamed the playoff system for his triumph, saying, “I don’t like people talking that way because if the rules were the old way, we would play it out differently, wouldn’t we? I just think that’s just a bunch of hearsay back there and people that just got to accept what the times are. Times change, right?”

Let the Trophy Talk

In the end, the result is there for all to see. When the checkered flag was waved at Phoenix Raceway, the Team Penske driver was right up there on the podium, lifting the Bill France Cup, again. He played by the same rules as others, only better, and secured some clutch results along the way.

Whether drivers or fans like it or not, championships are no longer won by consistency, laps led, or stage points.