If differences of opinion can be called a discrepancy, then NASCAR is in full-blown dissent. Following the Bank of America Roval 400, two of the sport’s senior drivers – Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski – clashed, not over the race itself, but over the sanctioning body’s playoff format.
While RFK Racing co-owner Keselowski wants the 10-race elimination system scrapped, defending Cup Series champion Logano deemed it “wicked,” praising the drama and storylines it produces. But what about the gazillion racing fans around the world? Well, fans weren’t having it. Soon, NASCAR Nation erupted, with many blasting Logano’s comments, labeling him explicitly as a “smug SOB.”
Will Fans Forgive Joey Logano After His Roval Playoff Comments?
Fans ripped into the Penske driver under Dustin Long’s tweet, “For those who hate the #NASCAR playoffs, Joey Logano has a message for you …” Amid talks of potential changes to NASCAR’s 2026 championship format, the No. 22 driver continues to back the current elimination-style system.
The Team Penske driver, a three-time Cup champion in 2018, 2022, and 2024, proved the format works for him, barely securing a spot in the Round of 8 after a dramatic showdown at the Charlotte ROVAL. But his post-race comments about the existing format got him in hot water.
“The playoffs create drama. It creates storylines. It creates awesome moments like that. I don’t understand what people don’t like about it. I really don’t get it,” he said, smirking as he subtly mocked the critics.
He further opined, “If you’re one of those people who say the regular season doesn’t matter, playoff points don’t matter, one point would have been the difference there. I preach that all the time. I’m not just saying that because it works for us. I’m saying it because it’s true. Everyone likes to look at it in other ways, but like I said, one point was the different there.”
“If you don’t have cutoff races and things like that, what are you even talking about today? How Shane (van Gisbergen) waxed everyone’s b**t? That’s what you want? I’m just saying, this playoff format is wicked,” he added before, lauding the playoff format.
joey logano is the biggest fraud in nascar history. he exploits the format and then begs to keep it cause its the only thing making him relevant. and the fans who support it only like it cause their drivers benefit from it.
— Toadstool (@Gl1tcchhh) October 6, 2025
Fans, however, were outraged, seeing the champion, supposedly their advocate against NASCAR, dismiss their concerns. Social media quickly erupted in a frenzy. “Joey logano is the biggest fraud in nascar history,” wrote one user. He continued his criticism, “He exploits the format and then begs to keep it cause its the only thing making him relevant. and the fans who support it only like it cause their drivers benefit from it.”
He makes Denny Hamlin likable. What a smug SOB.
— Jonathan (@goJohnnyA) October 6, 2025
Whereas another fan dragged Denny Hamlin into the mix and gave the Penske ace some tough love – “He makes Denny Hamlin likable. What a smug SOB.” A third fan took things up a notch, calling Logano out, tagging him to his comments – “Hey dip**t @joeylogano. We could name a ton of reasons we don’t like it To your regular season point, you were dog**t all year. U didnt have playoff points. So no, they dont matter That wasnt “real drama”. That was manufactured drama.”
Hey dipshit @joeylogano
We could name a ton of reasons we dont like it
To your regular season point, you were dogshit all year. U didnt have playoff points. So no, they dont matter
That wasnt “real drama”. That was manufactured drama
— TCT (@TwoCarTandems) October 6, 2025
Meanwhile, others echoed the same sentiment, citing that Logano would never be a two-time champion if it weren’t for the broken system.
“He’s saying that because without them he’d be -520 to the Championship. He has no shot to win any Championships with any other format,” wrote a fan, while another shared, “Shocker. The guy who’s only relevant because he’s spent his career taking advantage of a broken system is defending the broken system.”
Shocker. The guy who’s only relevant because he’s spent his career taking advantage of a broken system is defending the broken system.
— Lane (@stay_in_your_Ln) October 6, 2025
Another enraged fan trashed the 35-year-old as a “gimmick,” refusing to acknowledge him as the champ.
Nothing but a gimmick not a legit champion
— Jeffrey Massingill (@JMassingill6M) October 6, 2025
As it appears, Logano may back the playoffs, but NASCAR fans aren’t buying it; more importantly, the debate over the sport’s format shows no signs of cooling.
