Joey Logano wins the 2024 NASCAR Championship

After a long, exciting season, Logano beats Penske teammate Blaney to the title. 

Joey Logano’s championship success has sparked debate online as to whether he is the most ‘undeserving’ champion since the start of this playoff format in 2014. With an average finish of 17.1, he’s had far from the perfect season.

2023 was an unimpressive season for #22 driver, getting knocked out in the Round of 16 phase of the playoffs and unable to defend his title from 2022. Coming into 2024, more of the same continued. The pace was lacking in race trim, he was getting involved in unnecessary wrecks, with a fortunate win in Nashville securing his way into the playoffs. Denny Hamlin in the #11 dominated this race, but an Austin Cindric spin (ironically Logano’s teammate) with only a few laps to go brought out the caution. The next hour saw wreck after wreck and long-time leader Hamlin had to pit for fuel, promoting Logano up the order, in a race where he spent much of his time in P17. He however capitalised on the opportunity, winning the race and cementing his spot in the last 16.

If it wasn’t for this good fortune, he would’ve finished the regular season P17 on points, with surprise victors in Chase Brisoe and Harrison Burton knocking out other favourites like Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain.

He then impressively won the Atlanta II race to win his way into the Round of 12, with his playoff run seemingly coming unstuck at the Roval. Finishing the race in P8 meant he didn’t achieve the points to advance past Alex Bowman who sat in the crucial 8th position in the playoff standings. This is where Logano’s luck continued. Later on in the day, Alex Bowman was disqualified for his car being marginally underweight, relegating him from the playoffs and handing Logano the crucial 8th spot.

The first race of the Round of 8 was held at Las Vegas Motorspeedway. Christopher Bell dominated the day, leading the most laps and by far had the fastest car. Logano in an attempt to try and clinch a top 3 result from the race deployed an audacious strategy, with one less pit stop. He was able to stretch the fuel – with help from teammate Blaney – and crossed the line in first, mere car lengths ahead of Bell. This meant the #22 found himself into the championship 4 in Phoenix, a result no one expected.

The rest is history.

Qualifying P2 behind the retiring Martin Truex Jr, he led for the majority of stage 1 and in stage 2 showed great pace to recover the positions lost from a poor pit stop. He navigated the restart with about 60 laps to go beautifully, gaining 5 places and taking the lead, a position which he wouldn’t relinquish. His teammate Blaney had issues passing Larson after the caution, a delay which ultimately cost him the title as he was the quicker of the two.

This NASCAR playoff season has shown and taught me a lot as a new NASCAR fan. I think it’s one of the most exciting and enthralling racing formats currently in motorsport. Every week there’s danger for any driver who is still in the title charge, with the final races in every round coming down to the final few laps, or even the last corner if you are Byron and Bell at Martinsville.

I do however think it is slightly unfair. There’s no doubt Joey Logano delivered exactly when he needed to, giving him the opportunity to clinch the title for the third time. It however doesn’t reward those who have been extremely consistent throughout the season. Kyle Larson in the #5 by far led the most laps this season and had the most wins, yet he eliminated in the Round of 8 as he had two ‘poor’ results in a row. Same goes for Christopher Bell. By far the most consistent driver in the playoffs, being +29 going in to Martinsville. But a poor pit stop and an inconsistent race meant he was a lap down and eventually knocked out by a penalty for a last lap overtake on the #23 of Wallace.

This doesn’t make Logano’s achievement any less impressive, I just believe the season he has had leading up to the finale will always lead people to comment on the structure of the regular season compared to the playoffs, and whether it is the best way to decide a champion. Either way, it sets us up for an exciting 2025 with Logano going for a 4th title, Blaney seeking his crown back and fast chargers in Larson, Byron and Bell looking to make an even bigger impact.