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. 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.

Even Year Logano hypothesis

Beginnings; 2018–2022 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. 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.

2020

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

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. 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.

Widespread; 2024–present 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.

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. 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.

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. Logano would then win at Las Vegas, once again on fuel mileage, over Christopher Bell locking his way into the Championship 4.

Logano would score his 3rd career championship at Phoenix, fending off teammate Ryan Blaney for the win and the championship. 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.

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. 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.

Cases for the Even Year Logano hypothesis NASCAR Cup Seasons where Even-Year Logano has been cited <small> Year Chase Result Season Finish (Final Rank)2014Qualified4th2016Qualified2nd2018Champion1st2020Qualified3rd2022Champion1st2024Champion1st2026Qualified—*

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. 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.

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.

References

External links Heavy.com profile on the Even Year Logano trend