Kyle Petty silences critics of Joey Logano, NASCAR playoff format: 'Give him credit'

Over the years, Kyle Petty has seen a thing or two in NASCAR. That’s why he wants fans to give Joey Logano credit where credit is due. There has been a lot of naysaying and boohooing in the aftermath of Sunday’s race.

Joey Logano has now won three championships within seven seasons. 2018, 2022, 2024. Team Penske has three in a row. This isn’t a lucky fluke, this is an organization and driver executing a plan to perfection given the circumstances they were dealt.

Kyle Petty recapped the championship today. During his monologue, Petty talked about Logano and how fans are taking his third title.

“Joey Logano was not to be denied! Joey Logano seized control of that race,” Petty said. “We talk about it all the time, you put Joey Logano in the first two or three rows on a restart, he’s going to bring home a trophy. You give Joey Logano the lead in the last 25, 30 laps of a championship race, he’s not going to be denied. He seizes control, he takes the trophy, he takes the championship. His third championship people, third championship.

“Now, this is something I don’t understand, I don’t understand why, as I see on Twitter and X, whatever you call it now, why so many people are complaining and saying he doesn’t deserve it. Listen, we celebrate a 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, it’s a Cinderella story, it’s the greatest story in the world! It’s America, people! They make it to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. We take a guy, that you guys, or the fans perceive, doesn’t belong there and he wins the championship and we say, ‘He doesn’t deserve it, he doesn’t deserve it.’

“Let me tell you something, you win a championship at the Cup level, you survive 36 races during the season, you deserve that championship. He has risen to a place in the sport that few others have ever gone. … 34 years old. Listen, Kyle Busch, 39, two championships. Kyle Larson, 32, one championship. Joey Logano has separated himself from the pack. He is an incredible driver, give hm credit. He is our 2024 champion. Well deserved. Congratulations Joey Logano.”

While no one has to be happy about Logano’s win, it should be respected. Everyone operated under the same rules. During the season, Logano was not the fastest on a weekly basis. But you don’t have to be in this system.

So, he didn’t have a great average finish. He won four of the final 20 races, three of the final 10 and if you add the All-Star Race, he had five total wins on the season. Only Kyle Larson had more wins.

When history looks back on Joey Logano, it will be as a three-time champion, at least. The first thing that comes to mind won’t be how he did it. Instead, he will be listed among drivers such as Tony Stewart, Lee Petty, Darrell Waltrip, and more.

During the season, no one saw it coming. However, isn’t that what makes sports exciting and worth watching?