The last memory NASCAR fans have of the 2022 season is of Joey Logano winning the Championship 4 in Phoenix. With three months between races, he’ll remain top-of-mind until the Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles and perhaps beyond.
But does becoming a two-time Cup Series champion make the man behind the wheel of the No. 22 Ford the most valuable driver? NBC racing analyst Jeff Burton thinks so.
Joey Logano carries the defending champion title into 2023
The temptation to call the champion the most valuable driver is understandable. Hardcore fans and casual viewers alike saw him win the final race of the season, making Joey Logano an enduring memory during the down months. There’ll be plenty of race winners throughout next season, but Logano carries the title of defending champ until he’s dethroned in another Championship 4.
Every champion gets a comparable bump in notoriety, and it’s hardly exclusive to NASCAR. Sports fans and media gravitate toward winners.
It’s worth noting Logano isn’t exactly the flavor of the week. Aside from his 2018 Cup Series championship, he’s won 31 races in the top series. The victories include the 2015 Daytona 500. Tack on 30 Xfinity Series wins, and Logano is destined for induction into the Hall of Fame.