“If Joey Logano wins this title, there is going to be a wrath on social media about this format.”
This weekend, NASCAR will host their championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and William Byron are the four drivers in the title battle.
NASCAR’s playoff system is designed to award winners. However, the driver with the most wins, by a large margin, Kyle Larson is absent from the playoff fight.
Joey Logano was eliminated from the playoffs after the race on the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October. Yet, after the race, Bowman was handed a disqualification. The penalty moved Logano back into the playoff battle and took Bowman out ahead of the Round of 8.
Alex Bowman disqualified after Charlotte; Eliminated from playoffs
In the next round of the playoffs, Joey Logano picked up a win using a fuel mileage strategy. That handed him a ticket to this weekend’s race at Phoenix Raceway.
And Denny Hamlin sees this as another example of a playoff system failure…
Phoenix TV Schedule: November 2024 (NASCAR Championship)
Denny Hamlin on the NASCAR playoff system
“That takes a spot from some of your big winners. The most dominating drivers of the year are out because of one race,” Denny Hamlin stated via Actions Detrimental of Logano’s fuel strategy win.
“This is the downside to the format. There is very few people out there that believes this system rewards the most deserving champion.”
“I can tell you this and it’s not their fault or his fault or anyone. But if Joey Logano wins this title, there is going to be a wrath on social media about this format.”
“It already is. It’s so interesting because Kyle Larson, you said in this season or when you decided this that you wanted to put an emphasis on winning. He’s won more races than anyone by a long way and yet he is not part of the title fight.”
Larson has won 6 races this season, the next closest driver has just three. But, this isn’t the first example of this scenario…
“Kevin Harvick won ten races and didn’t get to race for the title. The format is broken and if you disagree you’re in denial.”
“You know you have that stretch in the middle of the summer you’re thinking, ‘We’re right there on the verge, we’re one of the top teams.’ But the win and you’re in just changes everything and it certainly, those good consistent finishes is definitely what it does not reward.”
The 43-year-old has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins. However, Hamlin has yet to claim the championship title.
NASCAR penalizes Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon
