Alex Bowman Backs Rival Joey Logano: Shuts Down 'Illegitimate' Title Talk

In the rough-and-tumble world of NASCAR, drivers aren’t exactly known for handing out compliments to their rivals. It’s a sport built on beating the guy next to you, week in and week out. So, when a driver like Alex Bowman goes out of his way to defend another, especially one he’s had his fair share of run-ins with, like Joey Logano, you tend to sit up and take notice. It’s a rare moment of respect that cuts through the noise of competition, and it speaks volumes about the guys behind the wheel.

During a recent appearance on the SpeedFreaks show, Bowman didn’t just offer a token soundbite; he delivered a full-throated defense of Logano’s championships, pushing back against a narrative that has followed several champions in the playoff era. It was a surprising, yet incredibly refreshing, dose of honesty from the Hendrick Motorsports driver.

Why Alex Bowman Is Defending His Rival

Let’s be real. Alex Bowman and Joey Logano haven’t always seen eye to eye. They’ve traded paint, exchanged words, and battled hard for position on the track. That’s what makes Bowman’s recent comments so compelling. He started by sharing his own preference for the old-school, 36-race season-long points championship, which is a sentiment many long-time fans can get behind.

“As far as what I would change, I’m a 36-week points structure type of guy,” Bowman admitted. “That’s what I grew up watching. That’s what I like the most. I think that’s what rewards the entire body of work the most.”But here’s where he pivoted. Instead of using his personal preference to criticize the current system, he used it to validate the champions it produces.

He tackled the “illegitimate” champion argument head-on. This argument has been lobbed not just at Logano, but at legends like Jimmie Johnson and modern stars like Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney.“I’ve seen people who try to say that like Joey’s taking advantage of it, right? Because he struggled throughout the year last year, got one win, and then kicked all our asses in the playoffs,” Bowman explained.

“That doesn’t make him an illegitimate champion. He has the system that we all have to work with, and he worked with it better than the rest of us. I don’t think that makes it illegitimate.”That right there is the kind of raw, unfiltered perspective you don’t often hear. It’s a racer acknowledging another racer’s mastery of the game they’re all forced to play. It’s not about whether you like the rules. It’s about who plays by them the best.

The Pressure of the NASCAR Playoffs

Logano’s career, particularly his championships, has become a masterclass in navigating the high-stakes pressure of the NASCAR playoffs. He’s proven time and again that you don’t have to be the best for the first 26 races. You have to be the best when it counts the most. Last season was a perfect example. Logano had a relatively quiet regular season, but when the playoffs began, he and his Team

Penske crew found another gear, culminating in a dominant performance at Phoenix to clinch his third title.It’s a strategy that drives some fans crazy, but as Alex Bowman pointed out, it’s a legitimate path to a championship. Every team knows the rules of engagement. The goal is to survive, advance, and peak at the right time. Logano has simply perfected that formula. He understands that momentum in September, October, and November is what carves your name into the history books.

What’s Next for Bowman and Logano?

As the current season’s playoffs heat up, Logano finds himself in familiar territory. Fighting from just below the cutline, needing a strong run to keep his championship hopes alive. It’s a position he thrives in. With races at tracks where he has a history of success, like Gateway and Phoenix, nobody should be writing him off.

Bowman, on the other hand, is just looking for a little old-school consistency. His lament, “I would just like 36 races and call it good,” is a feeling many can relate to. But his respect for Logano’s success shows that even if he prefers a different system, he’s not going to discredit the achievements of his competition.

In a sport where rivalries fuel the drama, this moment was different. It was a glimpse into the driver’s mindset, where respect for the craft can sometimes outweigh the competitive fire. Alex Bowman may not send Logano a Christmas card, but he’ll be the first to tell you that Logano’s championship rings are 100% real. And in NASCAR, that kind of respect is earned, not given.