NASCAR: Joey Logano not a ‘fake’ champion, but two things can be true

NASCAR: Joey Logano not a 'fake' champion, but two things can be true

As a lifelong NASCAR enthusiast with over three decades of rooting for my favorite drivers, I can confidently say that Joey Logano’s 2024 championship win was both surprising and well-deserved. The man has an uncanny ability to pull off the impossible, like winning a race on fumes or snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the final lap. It’s this grit and determination that make him one of the most exciting drivers to watch.

In simpler terms, despite having an average race finish of 17.1 and accumulating only the 11th highest points total across all 36 NASCAR Cup Series races this season, Joey Logano from Team Penske was declared the champion on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway.

For several weeks, there had been growing discontent about the possibility of Logano winning the championship, particularly after his advancement from the round of 12 was caused by Alex Bowman’s disqualification.

As a gamer, I found myself in an unexpected situation at the end of the regular season, sitting in 15th place in the point standings. If it weren’t for that nail-biting five-overtime win at Nashville Superspeedway, I wouldn’t have even qualified for the playoffs. But then, fortune smiled on me as I clinched the round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, securing my spot in the Championship 4.

Although his regular season was not particularly impressive, he managed to achieve something no one else could – securing the opportunity to be named the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion.

And whether you want to hear it or not, the rules were the exact same for everybody.

Among the four contenders, he was the one who qualified for the Championship 4, and he emerged as the top performer in that group. It’s indisputable that his championship win wasn’t a sham; any thoughts that other drivers were “more deserving” based on irrelevant factors are unfounded.

But just because Logano won the championship fair and square doesn’t mean criticism of the format is not permissible.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my thoughts on the 2018 NASCAR championship. Despite Logano being statistically the weakest champion in its 76-year history, it’s hard not to question certain aspects of the playoff format. It seems that this system, while intended to create excitement, has revealed some flaws, almost making it a bit embarrassing for NASCAR. This comes at a time when Elton Sawyer, a respected voice in the sport, emphasized the need for drivers to consistently bring their “A-game” every week. However, I believe the modern format demands more than that.

Indirectly, Logano’s title win was precisely what NASCAR required. Having drivers in second or third place secure the championship isn’t unusual, and fans will always grumble about it. But a driver in 11th position winning? That’s something unexpected and refreshing for the sport.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but feel a tinge of regret that Harrison Burton didn’t go on an impressive playoff run. The reason? It would have been a cherry on top for NASCAR after their rather insensitive remarks by Sawyer, which, let’s be honest, left a pretty big mess all over the sport.

Given a different playoff format, Logano and his team might have chosen a different strategy. To some extent, this assumption seems plausible. However, they skillfully used the existing format to their advantage right up until the final race on Sunday.

As a gamer, I’d say, “Sure, they may have struggled at times, finishing outside the top 20 on numerous occasions. But when the moment came for them to step up, they delivered. That’s something not everyone can do.

However, Logano was competing with minimal stakes in nearly half (four out of nine) of the playoff races prior to the Championship 4. This scenario is unique and unparalleled in most sports, even those involving balls and sticks. Essentially, it’s as if a team that qualified for the playoffs through the last wild card spot was granted a four-week first round bye.

And this format supposedly requires you to bring your A-game every week?

It’s clear that the playoff structure isn’t flawless, and this season’s championship has only emphasized that fact. However, some of the criticisms leveled against it are unfounded or illogical.

It’s adorable how some argue NASCAR isn’t a team sport like soccer or basketball, but the point remains undeniable: There’s no rule dictating that the NASCAR champion must be determined by the driver accumulating the highest number of points.

Now 21 years into the playoff era, you’d think fans would have figured that out.

Just like baseball, many sports are also played with a stick and a ball, and initially, the postseason was simply known as the World Series. However, it’s important to note that the development of playoffs isn’t exclusive to one type of sport.

However, when you hop onto social media, it becomes clear that regardless of the outcome or changes made, there will always be a chorus of complaints. It seems impossible to please everyone, even if NASCAR were to alter its format.

Previous criticisms during off-seasons may make current grievances seem like they are falling on unhearing ears. Despite the fact that this year’s championship provides fans with more legitimate reasons to complain than ever, their past exaggerations have made it difficult for their concerns to be taken seriously by NASCAR.

To put it simply, I must admit that even a standard season-long point system would stir up debates these days, given the prevalence of stage racing. This format awards points arbitrarily at specific laps throughout each competition, which adds another layer of complexity to the scoring system.

You could technically win all 36 races and finish in 11th place in the point standings, and you could technically finish no higher than 16th all year long and win the championship. Stage racing almost makes a season-long points format more gimmicky than any postseason format could.

Once more, our findings lead us to a consistent result. Disregarding the noise from fans who believe their driver should have taken the victory, it’s evident that Logano was the most deserving driver to be declared champion. Unlike others, he truly earned it, and there is no question about its legitimacy.

Having said that, two things can be true at once.

It’s clear beyond doubt that Logano’s title win exposed fundamental issues with the playoff format in NASCAR. However, it seems unlikely that NASCAR will pay heed to these concerns. Given the circumstances, is it surprising they aren’t listening?

2024-11-13 18:32

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