Did Chevy’s ‘Ugly’ Martinsville Tactics Trigger NASCAR Community’s Hate for Joey Logano?

Joey Logano, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series title holder, has risen against all the odds and proven his worth yet another time. The Phoenix Finals seemed to be an undisputed battle in which Team Penske cars refused to leave supremacy under any circumstance. However, fans seemed particularly unhappy with Logano taking the victory despite not offering much throughout the season. 

Compared to proponents like Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell, his contribution seemed more permissible after the striking Martinsville Speedway race. The Chevy manipulation, where William Byron was cordoned off to gain a position in the Top 4 after Christopher Bell was penalized due to his wall ride, further added fire to the hatred against Logano. 

Why was Logano subjected to such high-voltage hatred despite banging the victory position at Phoenix? 

Team Penske drivers put up a good show at the Phoenix and it seemed as though this race had the dominating powers under Logano’s car throughout. However, the Martinsville Speedway race that led to the top 4 deciders was a spectacle that the entire racing community looked up to. With the right kind of twists and turns coupled with nail-biting anticipation, it seemed as though fans could not predict the position holders even till the last moment. An incident that has become almost synonymous with the Martinsville race for 2024 is how Chevy drivers tried to “fix” the race. 

Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon had invariably blocked the track for Byron and despite their ability to lead, they chose to take a backseat. This ensured that their Chevy mate could stay in the battleground and make it to the Top 4. It is also this incident that precisely led to Bubba Wallace coming in favor of Bell and the latter finally got disqualified as he climbed the wall in a hasty attempt to surpass Byron. While Byron did end up still making it to the Top 4, Christopher Bell who had shown unbeatable performance on the track and had appeared at the top 10 at every playoff race except Watkin Glens could not make this achievement. However, fans were quite happy as Ryan Blaney had marked his victory and it seemed to be a deserving one. 

Adding to the nature of his victory, NASCAR insiders shared, “NASCAR needed to fix it, but Martinsville was fixed, and it was a great race. That’s exactly what you want out of a short track: tire wear, comers and goers, and all of that. You also had a career day from Blaney, and I know he was the defending champion, but in a lot of ways, this was the defining moment of his career. He went to Martinsville a week after the heartbreak at Homestead, where everyone was second-guessing him, thinking about what he could have done differently. And he goes to Martinsville and not only wins but wins in the way he did, making a late charge and everything.”

What triggered the hatred more was that while the other contenders to the top 4 seemed deserving because of their statistical inference, Joey Logano seemed to be a misfit for most fans. According to the common opinion, Joey Logano had done nothing but win only one race in Las Vegas. It was the twisted playoff format that saved him from disqualification after Alex Bowman failed to meet car weight prerequisites. Drivers like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson, both of whom racked up wins in the regular season, found themselves out of contention because of the points system. 

As NASCAR insiders break down what happened at Martinsville, they said, “If Bell had been in the final four, I don’t think we would have had that same conversation. We would have had the regular season champion in Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, who was dominant throughout the regular season and the playoffs, Ryan Blaney, who deserved to be there, and Joey Logano, who was the Cinderella story.” He further added, “That’s a great point. I do still think Logano ending up as the champion would have caused some hand-wringing, but having Christopher Bell in the final four would have definitely changed the conversation about who was there. Bell’s playoff performance was the best anyone had over those 10 races, and that’s something that can’t be overlooked”. 

Despite Chevy’s manipulation, Ryan Blaney emerged victorious at Martinsville, solidifying his position as a deserving champion. However, Logano’s controversial playoff survival reignited debates about NASCAR’s format rewarding an undeserving titleholder.

Logano’s entry into the elite list meets with criticisms from fans yet again

Even after weeks of the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 coming to an end, it seems as though fans cannot make peace with the fact that someone with the lowest average finish made it to the victory cup. There have been repeated comparisons drawn with drivers like Kyle Larson who had clenched to six victories throughout the season and yet did not make it to the final four. The 2024 victory also let Joey Logano into a list as he is among the very few drivers who have clinched the NASCAR Cup Series title three times before the age of 35. 

Celebrating this achievement, NASCAR Classic had taken to their official X account. The post read, “Legendary company. @joeylogano joins @JimmieJohnson , @therichardpetty and @JeffGordonWeb as the only drivers to win three championships and a #DAYTONA500 before turning 35 years old”. This went on to stir massive negative reactions from fans who were disappointed with Logano’s win and then this accreditation stating him to be “undeserving”. 

While Joey Logano’s milestone undoubtedly places him in an elite category of NASCAR legends, the backlash from fans underscores the polarizing nature of modern championship formats. Critics argue that his 2024 victory highlights flaws in a system that prioritizes playoff performance over season-long consistency. Yet, Logano’s ability to rise to the occasion under immense pressure speaks volumes about his resilience and adaptability—qualities essential for any champion. Whether celebrated or criticized, his accomplishment cements his legacy in NASCAR history, ensuring that his name remains part of the sport’s most debated and storied conversations for years to come.