Edge Rewrite
pun Source code View original
Jump to content

Draft:Even Year Logano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Even Year Logano
Logano after winning his first NASCAR Cup Series title in 2018.
OriginOctober 2018 social media post on Twitter from IndyCar editor Eric Smith
External videos
video icon Video Essay on Even Year Logano, by Elly Productions, published November 9, 2024.

Even Year Logano is a seemingly spurious correlation and internet meme surrounding Joey Logano, in which he is regarded as a championship threat in the NASCAR Cup Series in even numbered years.[1][2] The hypothesis started to receive widespread attention starting in 2022, with the hypothesis asserting that in even numbered years starting in the 2014 season, Logano has had a strong chance at winning the championship that particular season regardless of how his season began.[3][4][5][6]

Even Year Logano hypothesis

[edit]

I'm anti-superstitious. But hey, if the pattern wants to keep giving us trophies, I'm not going to complain about it.

— Joey Logano, after winning at North Wilkesboro in 2026.

Beginnings; 2018–2022

[edit]

2018

[edit]
Logano after winning his first championship at Homestead in 2018.

The earliest known mention of the pattern was made by IndyCar's lead editor, Eric Smith, in a Twitter post on October 28, 2018 directly following the Fall Martinsville race which Logano would win to advance his way into the Championship 4. Smith would note that Logano made the Championship 4 in every single even numbered year up that point, those being in 2014, 2016, and that year.[7][8] The win that day would punch Logano's ticket into the Championship 4 at Homestead. Logano would follow that up by winning at Homestead, earning his first career Cup Series title.[9][10][11]

2020

[edit]
Logano at Daytona in 2020.

In 2020 Logano would once again make the Championship 4, with a win at Kansas in the Round of 8.[12] He would ultimately fall short of the title, finishing the race in 3rd, 3rd in points.[13][14]

2022

[edit]
Logano at Dover in 2022.

The theory started to garner widespread attention across the fanbase and media in 2022, with numerous outlets starting to take notice and report upon it.[15][16] Logano would win the championship that season after clinching his spot in the Championship 4, with a win at Las Vegas in the Round of 8.[17][18][19]

Widespread; 2024–present

[edit]

2024

[edit]
Logano at Las Vegas in 2024.

Controversy would arise numerous times surrounding Logano in the 2024 season. At Nashville, Logano would outlast the field during five overtime attempts on fuel mileage to earn his first win of the year, earning his spot in the Playoffs.[20][21]

At Richmond, Logano would be leading going into turn 3 on the final lap until Austin Dillon drove into the corner at full speed with no brakes, and spun him out. Logano would then light his tires up on pit road while aimed directly at Dillon's wife, children, and pit crew for which he was highly criticized by NASCAR and the fanbase. He was later fined $50,000 by NASCAR for the incident.[22][23] Logano would enter the Playoffs, 4 races later at Atlanta, seeded in 9th due to his win at Nashville, whilst only being 15th in regular season standings. Logano would win at Atlanta to secure his spot in the Round of 12.[24]

In the Round of 12 Logano would have a slew of bad races, eliminating him from Playoff contention after the Charlotte Roval. However, in post-race inspection Alex Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports were disqualified, handing the spot to Logano and Team Penske who were the first team out.[25][26] Logano would then win at Las Vegas, once again on fuel mileage, over Christopher Bell locking his way into the Championship 4.[27]

Logano would score his 3rd career championship at Phoenix, fending off teammate Ryan Blaney for the win and the championship.[28][29] The victory was met with heavy criticism throughout the industry, specifically at NASCAR for the Playoff format and after another controversial finish involving the format in 2025 with Denny Hamlin, NASCAR elected to switch back to the old format starting in 2026.[30][31][32]

2026

[edit]
Logano at Sonoma in 2026.

Logano and team would get off to a slow start to their 2026 season, only being in 17th in the standings before North Wilkesboro, the 21st race of the season.[33] At Wilkesboro the team would dominate throughout, scoring their first win of the season, which catapulted them to 15th, 16 points above the Chase cutoff line. The team would score another win at Richmond 3 races later.[34][35][36]

Cases for the Even Year Logano hypothesis

[edit]
NASCAR Cup Seasons where Even-Year Logano has been cited
Year Chase Result Season Finish
(Final Rank)
2014 Qualified 4th
2016 Qualified 2nd
2018 Champion 1st
2020 Qualified 3rd
2022 Champion 1st
2024 Champion 1st
2026 Qualified —*

Since the introduction of the elimination format in 2014, many have noted Logano has demonstrated a seemingly recurring pattern to perform best in even numbered years.[37] In every single even-numbered year so far, over a course of 12 years and 13 seasons, Logano has successfully advanced through the former multiround playoff format to secure a spot in the final round of the Playoffs. Conversely, he has failed to reach the final round in every single odd-numbered year.[38][39]

In 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025, all odd numbered years, Logano was eliminated in earlier rounds of the playoffs or missed them entirely. He failed to record a single Championship 4 appearance during those years, further bolstering the hypothesis.[40]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Watkins Glen Turning Point: The even-year enigma and a wide-open road to the Round of 12". NASCAR. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  2. ↑ "The Start Of Something Big For Logano?". SpeedSport. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Even-Year Logano Strikes Again With Richmond Win". Toby Christie. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Joey Logano Ends His 9-year Long Richmond Drought and Suddenly Looks Like a Championship Threat". Kickin' the Tires. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Unstoppable and Undeniable: The Legend of Even Year Joey Logano". Seriously Fast Motorsports. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Thinkin' Out Loud: 'Even Year Logano' Has Arrived". Frontstretch. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ Smith, Eric [@Eric_IndyCar] (28 October 2018). "Logano has made Championship 4 in every even year 2014, 2016 and now 2018!" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 August 2026 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  8. ↑ "Logano Wins Martinsville Thriller". MRN. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  9. ↑ "A decade's worth of lessons deliver Joey Logano first championship". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Joey Logano wins first NASCAR Cup title, fulfilling dream of 6-year-old self". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Joey Logano Wins First NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway". The Drive. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Just 3 Spots Remain For The NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4". Autoweek. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Chase Elliott wins 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship". Bristol Motor Speedway. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Chase Elliott wins the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship". Motorsport. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Why Joey Logano will win the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series title". NASCAR. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  16. ↑ "2022 Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Season Review". Team Penske. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  17. ↑ "How Joey Logano's NASCAR Cup Championship Was Historic First For Roger Penske". Autoweek. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Quick reaction: Joey Logano wins 2022 NASCAR Cup Series championship". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Joey Logano outduels title contenders at Phoenix to win second NASCAR Cup Series championship". USA Today. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  20. ↑ "NASCAR recap: Joey Logano wins chaotic Nashville race in five overtimes". USA Today. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Joey Logano, winner of NASCAR Cup Ally 400, is no stranger to Nashville Superspeedway". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Joey Logano fined $50K by NASCAR for postrace actions at Richmond". FOX Sports. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Joey Logano reacts to $50K NASCAR penalty, adamant pit road wasn't in danger: 'I had complete control'". On3. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Joey Logano Advances to Round of 12 with Atlanta Overtime Win". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Joey Logano, Alex Bowman discuss controversial Roval DQ ahead of Las Vegas". On3. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Inside Alex Bowman's disastrous week after Charlotte Roval DQ". NASCAR. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  27. ↑ "5 Points to Ponder: Even-Year Joey Logano is Inevitable, Confirmed". Frontstretch. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Masters of the house: Joey Logano, Team Penske perfecting the playoff format". NASCAR. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Joey Logano 1-on-1: On even-numbered year titles, turning off his phone, Richmond tires". FOX Sports. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Joey Logano Doesn't Like Questioning Legitimacy of 2024 Championship". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Joey Logano is a three-time NASCAR champion. He doesn't care about the rest". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  32. ↑ "NASCAR returns to Chase championship format for 2026". NASCAR. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Logano unlocked even-year mode in Saturday's NASCAR Cup win at Richmond". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Joey Logano holds off Chase Briscoe to win NASCAR race at Richmond". ABC News. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  35. ↑ "JOEY LOGANO WINS AT NORTH WILKESBORO, DELIVERING ROUSH YATES ENGINES' 400TH NASCAR CUP SERIES POINTS WIN". Roush Yates Engines. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Joey Logano wins Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway". NASCAR. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  37. ↑ "NASCAR Fans Joke About 'Even-Year Logano' It Might Actually Be Happening". The Daily Downforce. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Forget the playoff format, Logano is a three-time NASCAR champ". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Joey Logano holds off Chase Briscoe to win NASCAR race at Richmond". Associated Press. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  40. ↑ "'Even Year Logano': Unique NASCAR Trend Explained". Heavy. Retrieved August 26, 2026.

Category:Joey Logano Category:Team Penske Category:Hypotheses Category:NASCAR terminology Category:Sports-related curses Category:Internet memes Category:Internet memes introduced in the 2010s Category:Internet memes introduced in 2018

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Even_Year_Logano&oldid=1376168610"