Logano secured his legacy with his third NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Joey Logano won his third NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday in the most Joey Logano way possible.

Despite posting his worst statistical season since 2012 and the worst average finish ever for a Cup Series champion, Logano edged out Ryan Blaney for the win.

How did he do it? By winning at the right time when needed.

Logano’s killer instinct in the big races is just what he needs to win a modern-day NASCAR championship in a playoff format.

You don’t have to like the format or accept that it’s a legitimate way to become a champion. But one thing is clear: Logano said he has the format figured out.

This is why he has won three of the last seven championships despite not being the best driver in each championship season.

At the same time, the winner-takes-all format is also why Logano’s three best seasons – 2015, 2016 and 2020 – resulted in him falling short of the title.

Throughout NASCAR history, certain drivers have been good at winning championships in certain points formats. The sheer dominance of Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt was a huge boost to drivers who seemed unbeatable under the Latford points system. In 2003, the final year of Latford’s system, Matt Kenseth’s quiet consistency gave the Wisconsin native his only Cup Series title.

The Chase for the Nextel Cup favored the legendary duo of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus, who treated the regular season as a testing session for the 10-race Chase. Johnson and Knaus used this strategy to win five consecutive championships from 2006 to 2010.

And not just Blaney, but Logano as well. They’ve come to life when it matters most and placed a Penske team on the championship podium three years in a row and four times in the last seven seasons.

Logano wouldn’t have made the playoffs if he hadn’t picked up a fuel efficiency win in Nashville on June 30th. Without the win in Atlanta on September 8, Logano wouldn’t have made it to the round of 12, and without Alex, he wouldn’t have made it to the quarterfinals. Bowman’s disqualification at the Charlotte Roval.

He wouldn’t have made it to the Championship 4 without another fuel efficiency win in Las Vegas, and he wouldn’t have won the title without a clutch restart in Phoenix.

But when the history books record the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, it will be that Logano did it all. They will document that Logano joins an exclusive list of drivers to win three championships under rules established by NASCAR at the beginning of the year.

Whether or not Logano is a worthy champion is debatable, but one thing is true: Logano steps up when it matters. When given the opportunity, he and the No. 22 team are opportunistic.

That’s why he once again accepted the Ville France Cup on Sunday evening.