In a recent NASCAR race, a flashpoint occurred at the end of Stage 2 when Joey Logano missed out on a stage win to Bubba Wallace. This was caused by his teammate, Austin Cindric, having to decelerate while attempting to give Logano a friendly nudge. These events led to notable animosity between Logano and Cindric. Logano, a three-time NASCAR champion, made no effort to hide his response over the radio.
Logano’s Response
As Cindric slowed, he significantly impeded Logano’s forward momentum. This allowed Bubba Wallace to claim the stage win with limited resistance from Logano. A visibly distraught Logano berated Cindric over the radio, stating,
“Way to go Austin, way to go, you dumb f***! What a stupid s**t. You just gave it to him. Gave a Toyota a stage win. Nice job. Way to go. What a dumbass. Put that in the book again.”
It’s evident from his outburst that Logano was far from pleased. However, he promptly turned his attention to the final race stage, where a win could potentially offset this disappointment.
Race Analysis
The Talladega race was eventful, as the Joe Gibbs & 23XI Racing Toyotas withdrew from the race during Stage 1. This unexpected development created a stir among the teams. Significant to note, Logano, despite ranking among the top-10 this season, has faced a poor run of final outcomes. Therefore it can be speculated that his altercation with Austin Cindric could have been somewhat triggered by this backdrop of frustration over his underwhelming performances.
Aftermath
In defense of his actions, Cindric explained that he slowed down to avoid causing a collision with his teammate. This reasoning, although practical, did little to soothe the outrage of Logano. However, Logano has more to focus on than just his teammate’s actions. He must stay on guard for the remainder of the Talladega race, where any lapse could prove costly. If the drivers aren’t cautious as the laps wind down, the remainder of the race may see even more tensions flare up.
