Joey Logano reveals stance on NASCAR changing championship format: 'Not my job to complain about what we have'

The NASCAR championship format may very well look different in 2026 and beyond. Joey Logano, a staunch supporter of the playoff system used from 2014-25, is OK with any potential changes.

“I liked where it was, but I’m gonna like where we go, too. I’m OK with whatever they do, just tell me the rules and then we gotta go figure out a way to win,” Logano told Donut Media. “It’s not my job to complain about what we have or what we’re gonna have. My job is to say ‘OK, this is the rules, let’s figure out the strategy to win this thing. Like, how do we do that.’ I don’t really care what it is, just tell me what it is so then we can focus on doing that.”

NASCAR introduced the current elimination style format in 2014. The 10-race postseason is capped off by a one-race, winner-take-all finale where the highest finisher of the Championship 4 drivers is crowned champion.

NASCAR put together a playoff committee consisting of former drivers, media partners, team owners, manufacturers, track representatives and independent media to determine if the format should change in 2026. Some have argued for a return to the full-season points format, while others are in favor of a revamped 10-race Chase.

Joey Logano loves the current championship format

Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of racing communications, said nine days ago on “Hauler Talk” that discussions are still taking place within NASCAR concerning the future of the championship format. Logano is a three-time champion under the current format. Whatever it looks like next season, his main focus is finding a way to win another championship.  

“The bottom line is it’ll be the same for everybody,” Logano said. “No matter what they come up with, everybody’s gonna have the same opportunity to go out there and win a championship, and we’ll have to just try and do it again.”

Why does Logano favor the current format in the first place? It comes down to pressure, and the constant feeling of knowing you need to perform when your back is against the wall.

“It seems like a lot of people don’t like the format we have. I’m the minority in saying I love it because I love the pressure part. It fits the kind of person I am,” Logano said. “I love playoff sports; that’s really the only time I watch other sports is when they’re in the playoffs because I like seeing people with their back up against the wall. I wanna see desperate people doing desperate things; I wanna see that.”