Joey Logano defends NASCAR points format: "The playoffs create drama"

While discussions are ongoing about possible changes to the championship format for 2026, Joey Logano remains strongly supportive of the current elimination-style system.

The Team Penske driver won the 2018, 2022, and 2024 Cup titles under this format, and just narrowly advanced into the Round of 8 after a wild race at the Charlotte Roval.

He was tied with Ross Chastain on the final lap (with Logano winning the tiebreaker), but ended up getting in by four points after Chastain made a desperate dive-bomb on Denny Hamlin in the final corner. The two cars spun with Chastain reversing wildly across the line as Logano stormed on by in a dramatic showdown for the eighth and final transfer spot.

Logano praises playoff format for its drama and storylines

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota spin out; Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford; Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images

After the race, fellow Cup champion Brad Keselowski spoke out against the current format, calling it a “net loss for the sport.” Logano clearly disagrees, as he explained in his own post-race comments on pit road.

“The playoffs create drama,” declared Logano in a post-race media scrum. “It creates storylines. It creates awesome moments like that. I don’t understand what people don’t like about it. I really don’t get it.

“And if you’re one of those people who say the regular season doesn’t matter, playoff points don’t matter — one point would have been the difference there. I preach that all the time. I’m not just saying that because it works for us. I’m saying it because it’s true. Everyone likes to look at it in other ways, but like I said, one point was the different there.

“If you don’t have cutoff races and things like that, what are you even talking about today? How Shane waxed everyone’s butt? That’s what you want? I’m just saying, this playoff format is wicked.”