“The two most popular drivers in our series – Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott – I’ve had run-ins with them.” Denny Hamlin’s words in 2023 made sense back then. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver carved out an unbeatable black hat status via his run-ins with the two Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Hamlin beat Larson six times in 1-2 finishes and also wrecked Chase Elliott in a 2017 Martinsville race, depriving him of a chance for the playoffs – and that was only the first of their encounters.
However, another new NASCAR villain seems to be on the block. Joey Logano clinched his third Cup Series championship in Phoenix last year with no less controversy. After securing just one regular season win to secure his spot in the playoffs, Logano ended up winning three more races out of the final 10 to take home the Championship. This angered NASCAR fans, who felt his title was undeserved. So, during his return to Phoenix this weekend, most fans made it clear they did not want Logano to repeat. But others held different opinions.
Is Joey Logano on the rise to don a black hat?
Well, honestly, the Team Penske driver had a bad reputation for a long time. ‘Sliced Bread’ broke into stardom in the NASCAR scene early, achieving his first Cup Series race win at merely 19 years old. Similarly, Joey Logano earned a spot in his rivals’ bad books early as well. He shared a mixed reputation with the audience – which turned antagonistic in 2016 when he feuded with veteran Matt Kenseth and 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick. In 2017, his iconic fistfight with Kyle Busch earned him a lot of vitriol as well, as Busch left with blood dripping from his face. But more importantly, Logano has knocked with Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson as well.
The two HMS drivers are arguably the most favorite in the sport at present. Elliott is a 7-time most popular driver winner, and Larson is Rick Hendrick’s ‘golden boy’. But Joey Logano doesn’t care; he clashed with them both! During the 2018 All-Star Race, Logano had collected Kyle Larson’s car and sent it spinning through the infield grass. Then, last year’s New Hampshire race witnessed Logano and Chase Elliott trade paint during a final stage crash. So it was hardly surprising to see both Logano and Denny Hamlin get showered with boos at the Shriner’s Children 500 race. Jeff Gluck updated on X: “Joey Logano gets the loudest boos during driver intros at Phoenix. Denny Hamlin also got a ton of boos. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott seemed to get the most cheers.”
Joey Logano gets the loudest boos during driver intros at Phoenix. Denny Hamlin also got a ton of boos.
Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott seemed to get the most cheers.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 9, 2025
Incidentally, both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin faced heartbreaks at Phoenix. After starting in the front row, Logano swapped the lead with William Byron, another HMS driver, on multiple occasions. But then he landed a pass-through penalty for a restart violation on lap 14. Although he rebounded back to the front row, he fell prey to his rivals’ stronger tires, as he had used up both sets of option tires. For Denny Hamlin, it was a battle with both Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson in the end. Despite outsmarting Larson, the JGR driver could not beat his own teammate, as Christopher Bell went on to win his third consecutive race, a feat last accomplished by none other than Kyle Larson in 2021.
And post-race, fans were there to rub salt into both black hats’ wounds. However, others reversed this bitter approach.
Fans bash both parties
Jeff Gluck’s observation of the Phoenix driver introduction fueled the commonplace opinions. Joey Logano already had a controversial reputation, which got a boost in 2024. After securing only one regular season race win and two playoff trophies, he clinched the championship – while Kyle Larson won 6 Cup Series race wins. So one fan declared: “Logano shouldn’t even be in cup.” Somebody else questioned Gluck himself for pouring old wine into a new bottle. Logano and Hamlin’s villain eras are well-known: “And you report this why? Like no one already knew Hamlin and Logano are disrespected by fans?”
Many deemed Joey Logano’s 2024 championship to be ill-deserved, especially after he miraculously got back into the Round of 8 due to Alex Bowman’s penalty at Charlotte. Yet the Team Penske driver made history – being the only active driver to win more than two championships since Jimmie Johnson did in 2006-2010. So the media’s spotlight is on him. But this bugged a NASCAR fan, who wrote: “Why are the announcers only focused on freakin Logano? Why is his name highlighted in red even prior to taking the lead? Favoritism much?”
While the old sentiment toward Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano continued, a fresh perspective also popped up. Chase Elliott won the seventh Most Popular Driver award after reports of malfunctioning in the fan voting system. Both he and Kyle Larson usually steer clear of flashy commercial campaigns and hardly create dramatic stories in the sport. So one fan quipped: “So weird. Elliot and Larson are two of the most boring human beings on the planet. How they have so many fans is astounding.” On the other hand, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano spice up the storylines with their polarizing views or actions. So another fan wrote: “It always cracks me up that NASCAR fans scream about drivers having personalities and then boo Logano and Hamlin and cheer two different shades of tan paint.”
Evidently, the mixed responses show different groups in the NASCAR fanbase. But one thing is clear – Joey Logano has toppled Denny Hamlin from the ‘NASCAR’s villain’ status.
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