In NASCAR, champions are supposed to be the torchbearers of the sport — the faces that define eras, inspire fans, and set the standard for excellence. Yet, strangely enough, they’re often the ones fans love to hate the most. From Dale Earnhardt to Jimmie Johnson, dominance on the track has always come with a chorus of boos in the stands. And if you ask today’s fans who the most hated champion is currently, odds are Joey Logano’s name comes up first.

But when the topic recently resurfaced on Reddit, the discussion took an unexpected turn. Fans dug deeper into the sport’s history and started naming champions whose unpopularity once rivaled their success. The NASCAR community revealed that being great in NASCAR often means being polarizing, too.

Joey Logano’s greatness and the hatred that comes with it

Joey Logano’s NASCAR career reads like the script of a modern dynasty. Debuting in 2008 as one of the youngest prospects in Cup Series history, Logano has since become a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, claiming titles in 2018, 2022, and 2024. With 37 career wins, a Daytona 500 victory, and multiple Championship 4 appearances, he stands among elite company alongside Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty, and Jimmie Johnson.

Now in his 17th full-time season and 13th with Team Penske, Joey Logano remains NASCAR’s youngest-ever winner in two of NASCAR’s three top divisions and one of the most durable title contenders in the main Cup Series. Yet, for all his achievements, Logano might be one of NASCAR’s most polarizing stars. Since his early clashes with veterans like Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth, he has carried the “villain” tag that’s never quite faded.

Fans recall iconic controversies: Kenseth’s 2015 Martinsville retaliation, the crowd’s emphatic boos after his 2018 championship win, and the countless “Logano blocks” that made headlines ever since. His unapologetic confidence and aggressive driving style keep him at the center of post-race debates, even as his trophy collection expands.

But perhaps what defines Logano most isn’t the boos, it’s that he thrives on them. Each jeer at driver intros seems to energize his performance, making him the ultimate “love to hate” racer of the modern era. Now, NASCAR fans are asking a surprising question in 2025: Is Logano the most hated champion ever? The conversation has turned toward older rivals and legendary stars who may have held that controversial mantle, way before Logano even came into the picture.

NASCAR fans clash over “Most hated champion” debate

One fan kicked off the discussion with, “Ever hear of a guy named Jimmie Johnson?” a name synonymous with greatness and frustration for many NASCAR fans. As a seven-time Cup Series champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner, Johnson dominated an entire era from 2006 to 2016, his five consecutive titles (seven in total) becoming both legendary and divisive.

Most NASCAR fans often accused Johnson of “making NASCAR boring,” while others admired the precision and calm that defined his reign. His professionalism off-track and relentless consistency on-track led to inevitable fatigue among fans. Not because he was disliked personally, but because he rarely lost.

Another fan wrote, “He’s not even the most hated active champion. People despised Kyle Busch.” Few would disagree. Busch’s fiery temper, post-race interviews, and habit of taunting fans (we can see glimpses of it even today) made him NASCAR’s go-to villain for years. His “Rowdy” persona thrived on chaos, and his dominance often came with drama. Yet, as Busch mellowed in recent seasons, that vitriol has waned.​

Meanwhile, another fan confession, “Not for me. I love Joey. I hate Blaney. Don’t ask me why, idk” highlights NASCAR’s emotional unpredictability. Ryan Blaney’s clean-cut personality, calm demeanor, and championship success in 2023 have ironically bred resentment from fans who find him “too polished” compared to old-school grit, which NASCAR fans usually look for in a driver.

A more reasoned voice chimed in. “Is he hated at all? People don’t like the playoffs. The hate is for the system.” Indeed, while the NASCAR community hates the playoff format, Logano’s timing, thriving in NASCAR’s elimination-style system, makes him a target for systemic frustration rather than personal fault. He plays the format masterfully, often peaking when it matters most. This has led him to win championships with just a few wins in a season, whereas dominant drivers have lost out.

In the end, one observation summed up the debate perfectly. “You look at he past champions and a lot of them were hated. Petty, Earnhardt, Waltrip, Yardbrough, Johnson, Busch, Harvick. But the difference is the reason why people hated those drivers is because they kept winning a lot. It just felt like the fans were bored with seeing the same drivers win all the time.”

The bottom line is that fans have always loved to hate winners. From Petty to Dale Earnhardt to Johnson, dominance breeds resentment. And Joey Logano, like those before him, is simply carrying on the tradition that defines NASCAR’s greatest champions.