Nowadays, in the NASCAR garage, no headline grabs more limelight than the playoff system, sparking endless debates among fans and insiders alike. Playoff buzz intensified when Jordan Bianchi floated a new playoff idea, a round of 3-3-4, on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, drawing sharp backlash from veterans like Mark Martin. Bianchi fired back with a tweet stating, “Be careful, Mark Martin is gonna tweet about you and accuse you of being on the NASCAR payroll,” adding fuel to the criticism. Yet this ongoing chatter echoes a deeper divide that traces back to 2003.

In 2003, Matt Kenseth’s consistent but boring run to the championship, clinching the title with just one victory, prompted NASCAR to overhaul the system for more excitement. Fast-forward to 2025, and the playoff format is under fire again, with some arguing that the current format doesn’t always reward dominance but luck. But what if the real spark for this backlash ties to who lifts the trophy and how popular he is?

Jordan Bianchi points to Joey Logano’s role in the playoff uproar

On Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media podcast, Jordan Bianchi dove into the heart of the NASCAR playoff debate, suggesting the outcry isn’t just about the format; it’s amplified by Joey Logano’s 2024 title run. “I feel like this is a case of Joey Logano winning. If Joey Logano doesn’t win the championship last year, if it was Chase Elliott or Kyle Larson who had done what Logano had done, I don’t think we’re having this conversation,” Bianchi boldly stated, highlighting how Logano’s unpopularity cranked up the volume.

Joey Logano, often met with boos at driver intros, secured his third Cup Series crown at Phoenix Raceway on November 10, 2024, holding off teammate Ryan Blaney by 0.330 seconds after leading 107 laps. Yet his season average finish of 17.1, the worst ever for a champion, drew scrutiny, especially when compared to Larson’s dominant 2021 haul of 10 victories.

Bianchi doubled down, noting, “I think a lot of this is the fact that it was Joey Logano, who one of the least liked drivers in the sport, who loudly gets the second or third level of loudest boos every single week, who did what he did, and had pi–ed people off.” Logano’s path included luck factors, like advancing to the Round of 8 after Alex Bowman‘s No. 48 Chevrolet was disqualified post-Charlotte Roval for being underweight, flipping Logano from ninth to inside the cutline. At Las Vegas, a fuel-saving strategy amid a late caution from Ty Gibbs‘ spin clinched his Championship 4 spot, despite just four wins all year, far from a season-long dominance.

Jeff Gluck pushed back in the discussion, saying, “No, I think it was how he did it,” emphasizing that fans felt Logano’s title didn’t reflect the year’s body of work, especially with Penske’s late surge. Logano himself vented frustration over legitimacy doubts: “For someone to say this isn’t real, it’s a bunch of bulls–t in my opinion.”

The 2024 saga reignited echoes of 2003, when Kenseth’s single-win title bored fans enough to birth the playoffs. But Bianchi insists the hate for the system spikes when an unpopular driver like Logano benefits, turning format flaws into personal gripes. With Logano often feeling the sting of fan reactions, it’s worth looking at moments where he connected differently, like at his home track.

Joey Logano channels Dale Jr. vibes in New Hampshire

Joey Logano has long navigated a tricky spot in NASCAR, where his on-track fire sometimes overshadows his off-track side. After snagging the pole for the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a solid P4, his home turf, he opened up about the rare wave of support. “I feel like I’m misunderstood a lot of times. I think the industry knows me really well and the kind of person I am. I don’t know if all the fans understand the kind of person I am or don’t understand how you can race one way and be happy all the other times. It doesn’t add up,” Logano shared, reflecting on the divide between his competitive edge and personal warmth.

The cheers at ‘Magic Mile’ stood out for Logano, who pumped his fist and shouted in excitement, a big reaction for a pole. He tied it to the hometown boost, saying, “You’ve got to cheer for the hometown guy, and it’s fun to enjoy that piece of it.” This moment echoed the fan love Dale Earnhardt Jr. enjoyed, especially in 2004, making Logano feel a rare kinship amid his usual mixed reception.

Logano leaned into the comparison, noting, “It’s the only time I ever feel a little bit like Dale Jr., just a little bit. It’s super cool. It’s really neat to be Dale Jr. I’ve learned.” In New Hampshire, where he represents local pride, the pole win highlighted a softer side, showing how track-specific vibes can shift perceptions for even the most debated drivers.