JOEY LOGANO WINS AT RICHMOND, ADDRESSES CHAMPIONSHIP CRITICISM

Joey Logano secured his second race victory of the season at Richmond Raceway. The win places Logano back in championship contention. Speaking after the race, Logano addressed criticism from some fans who have questioned the legitimacy of his three NASCAR Cup Series championships, which were all won under the elimination-style playoff format. Logano stated that he has "a chip on my shoulder" and that his team's slogan is "for the haters."

Logano won his most recent championship in 2024 at Phoenix after entering the playoffs in 15th place with a single victory at Nashville. He subsequently won at Atlanta to advance to the Round of 12, then benefited when Alex Bowman was disqualified at the Roval, which kept Logano's title hopes alive. Logano won at Las Vegas in the Round of 8 to secure a spot in the Championship 4. Logano has previously defended the playoff format, calling it "awesome," but stated he now wants to prove himself under the newly adopted 10-race championship run format. All three of Logano's championships have been won in even-numbered years.

Logano and his No. 22 team operated within the rules NASCAR established during the elimination-format era. The shift in championship format has given Logano additional motivation to demonstrate his capability to win titles under both playoff systems. Logano acknowledged that the trophies and associated prize money from his previous championships remain valuable regardless of the format used.