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After Joey Logano secured his third NASCAR Cup Series Championship, reactions poured in from well-known figures in the NASCAR world. One of those voices is Kyle Petty, a familiar name to NASCAR fans. With a wealth of experience and many great moments in his own career, Petty decided to share his thoughts on Logano's victory.
NASCAR fans have mixed feelings about the 34-year-old’s win, but Petty had a message for them in a media interview. He emphasized that winning three championships can't be a fluke, and he holds Logano in high regard, believing he's a driver who makes the most of the opportunities that come his way.
“Joey Logano was not to be denied! Joey Logano seized control of that race,” Petty said, as quoted by On3.
“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."
Petty explains that he's confused by the criticism of Logano's win, especially when he sees people complaining on social media. He points out the irony of how, in other sports like basketball, people celebrate underdogs; like a 16th seed team making it to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament; and call it an amazing, feel-good story.
However, when it comes to NASCAR, he feels that the reaction is different. When a driver who some fans think doesn't "belong" wins the championship, they argue that he doesn’t deserve it. Petty is frustrated by this double standard and emphasizes that, in sports, someone winning against the odds should be celebrated, not criticized.
It’s natural for a driver to get mixed reactions when they win, especially from people who aren’t fans of that driver. However, it seems that many well-known figures in NASCAR agree that Logano is a driver who truly deserves these moments. The 34-year-old has accomplished things in his career that many others haven’t. The real question now is what lies ahead for him and what kind of future he has in the sport.
The former NASCAR driver believes that winning a championship requires a lot of effort, including completing all 36 races in a season. The 64-year-old feels that Logano has achieved successes that many others can only dream of. It seems that not many people expected Logano to reach such heights in his career.
“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.”- he concluded.
Joey Logano on the critics
Joey Logano decided to react to the criticism that has been coming in recent days regarding his victory.
Logano responds to his critics by saying he has no time for them. He points out that he’s got a shiny new championship trophy and that, no matter what the haters say, he’s still winning; both in terms of success and financial rewards.
The most important thing for him is that he achieved his goal before the start of the season. Logano has always been a driver who had many haters, but also a huge fan base.
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series winner talks about how people criticize the playoff system in NASCAR, but he believes it's not much different from other sports. Logano explains that while the regular season helps teams get a better spot in the playoffs, it doesn't guarantee they’ll make it all the way to the finals or win the championship. He suggests that the way NASCAR does its playoffs is similar to how other sports handle their own playoff systems.
The 34-year-old has no interest in getting involved in debates or arguing with those who think he doesn’t deserve to reach this point in his career. After winning three championships, the conversation has already shifted to whether Logano can break more records in the future and leave an even bigger mark on NASCAR history. While he is already a part of the sport’s history, Logano is someone who is always hungry for success and has his eyes set on new goals for the future.
English (US)