Joey Logano's third NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2024 has ignited intense debate among fans and analysts. Critics argue that his success was more due to the controversial playoff format than consistent performance,

Logano won his third title in November, sparking debate about whether NASCAR’s current playoff format is the best way to determine the series’ worthiest champion. Few could make a strong case for that being Logano in 2024. He won four races, had 13 top-10 finishes and rarely had the car to beat over 37 events.

The green flag drops on another Cup Series season Sunday night with the exhibition Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Last year was no different. Logano qualified for the playoffs with a win at Nashville Superspeedway in June, outlasting the field on fuel through multiple overtime restarts. But he had only eight top 10s through the 26-race regular season and was 15th in the standings before the playoff reset.

Joey Logano celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series Championship auto race for the championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. Associated Press logo

Anyone who thinks his third Cup Series championship last year was a fluke? "I can't hear it because my trophies, they kind of, like, echo around me," the 34-year-old Logano quipped during a Zoom call with media Wednesday.