Joey Logano Fires Back at Critics ‘I Can’t Hear It Because My Trophies Echo Around Me’
Joey Logano has perfected the art of blocking out the noise. The critics, the doubters, and those questioning whether his third NASCAR Cup Series championship was a fluke? They don’t fear him.
“I can’t hear it because my trophies, they kind of, like, echo around me,” Logano said with a smirk during a Zoom call with the media on Wednesday.
The Team Penske driver clinched his third Cup title in November, igniting heated debates about NASCAR’s playoff format. Some argue it’s flawed, suggesting that Logano wasn’t necessarily the most dominant driver of the 2024 season. However, in Logano’s world, a championship is a championship—no matter how it’s won.
Logano’s Path to the Title: Luck or Skill?
Logano’s 2024 season wasn’t without controversy. While he won four races and racked up 13 top-10 finishes, he wasn’t consistently the driver to beat across 37 events. Some of his victories came with dramatic twists of fate.
One of the most talked-about moments was his wild win in Nashville, where he stretched an empty fuel tank through five overtimes just to qualify for the playoffs. Later, after being eliminated in the second round, he got a second chance when Alex Bowman’s car failed a post-race inspection.
His championship win has reignited calls for NASCAR to revise its playoff system, with some arguing for a rotating championship venue rather than sticking with Phoenix Raceway every year.
Defending the Playoff Format
Not surprisingly, Logano isn’t interested in change. In fact, he believes the current system is working just fine.
“The playoff system is very entertaining,” Logano said. “Other sports have teams that get hot at the right time and win it all. We’ve been one of those teams, thankfully, and it’s worked out for us three times. But that doesn’t mean you have to change the system.”
Despite driver complaints, NASCAR announced in January that there will be no modifications to the playoff format in 2025. However, officials will continue to evaluate it in the coming years.
The Push for a New Championship Venue
While Logano is content, some of his competitors believe the final race should move.
“I think it deserves a look for sure and probably a change down the road,” said William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s gotten a little bit too predictable—kind of like the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the AFC Championship every year. Sports can get repetitive, but switching up the final race location would bring fresh excitement.”
Byron suggested Las Vegas, Homestead, or Charlotte as possible alternatives.
Penske’s Championship Streak
Team Penske has dominated the last three Cup Series championships, with Logano securing titles around teammate Ryan Blaney’s victory in 2023. All these championships were clinched in Phoenix, fueling speculation that NASCAR might eventually move its season finale to a new track—just as it has done with other major events.
The Clash has shifted from Daytona to the Los Angeles Coliseum and, most recently, to Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina. The All-Star Race has also jumped between North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas before returning home.
Would it be shocking if the finale also moved? Not at all.
Chasing a Fourth Championship
With no major format changes in sight, Logano is laser-focused on title No. 4. The 34-year-old driver is now one of just six drivers in history to have three Cup Series championships. Another win would place him among NASCAR legends like Jeff Gordon (4), Dale Earnhardt (7), Jimmie Johnson (7), and Richard Petty (7).
“Probably not until I’m done racing will I be content with what I have,” Logano admitted. “I’ve got a lot of years left to win more championships and more races.
“As great as it is, the first 20 minutes of winning are amazing because you’re celebrating with your team and family. And then, every day after, it becomes less exciting and more like, ‘We got to do it again.’”
