Team Penske is once again at the center of attention following a dramatic turn of events during last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at Talladega. Joey Logano, a championship-winning driver for Team Penske, has ignited a firestorm of criticism after calling out his own teammate, Austin Cindric, in a shocking and profanity-laced outburst. This internal conflict has drawn not only the scrutiny of fans and commentators but also the sharp words of former baseball star Chipper Jones, who took to social media to publicly criticize Logano’s conduct.
During Tuesday’s media day for the upcoming NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, expectations of an apology were dashed as Logano refused to back down. Instead, he turned the tables, directing his frustration toward Chipper Jones and questioning his credibility. “I’m surprised that a professional athlete would act in that manner, because he’s been through it,” Logano commented, clearly unsettled by the criticism raining down on him and the increasing pressure faced by Team Penske.
For those who were not tuned in to Sunday’s emotional race, the controversy began when Logano lashed out at Cindric for not providing enough help in his bid to win Stage 2, even though Cindric had backed off to avoid causing a wreck between teammates. Chipper Jones, who has never shied away from voicing his opinions, tweeted at Logano, “Good teammates are hard to come by, Boss! Remember that one of urs MFed u on national TV, when in all actuality, u did everything possible to keep from wrecking him.” Jones’ stinging remarks found a wide audience, throwing fresh fuel onto the ongoing fire within Team Penske.
Rather than express regret, Logano took aim at Jones, offering a cold retort. “I say it all the time, I’m very careful to form an opinion on an athlete by their emotions or the way they play the game because I know from being in that position, when there’s that much on the line in a competitive environment, you act a certain way because you’re out there to win and you have to be able to shut that off,” Logano insisted. The tension between Team Penske’s internal needs and Logano’s public image grew increasingly apparent as he questioned the motives behind Jones’ remarks, saying, “It’s surprising to me. All I can think is he’s just trying to be relevant still or something like that. I don’t really know exactly why. I’ve never met him. I don’t have a reason not to dislike him, outside of now.”
The frustration within Team Penske escalated after Logano doubled down on his verbal assault, suggesting that Jones, despite being a professional athlete himself, should know better than to “mouth off on social media like someone who’s never played a sport.” Throughout the ordeal, Logano consistently refused to address criticisms about his own sportsmanship, declining to congratulate Cindric for his victory—something else Jones called out on social media, writing, “Couldn’t even congratulate @AustinCindric in the post race! #teamplayer At least he mentioned being selfish in the interview.”
What adds another bitter layer to this Team Penske controversy is the irony that just over an hour after the dust settled, news broke that Logano had been disqualified for an illegal spoiler, causing him to finish last. Chipper Jones responded gleefully, “My day just keeps getting better,” highlighting the palpable tension and very public embarrassment now facing Logano and Team Penske.
As the emotional unrest continues to sweep through the Team Penske camp, the fallout could be long-lasting. Austin Cindric’s victory has effectively earned him a place in the Cup playoffs, while Logano, still winless this season and with only one top-10 finish, grapples with mounting pressure and frustration. Team Penske remains under intense scrutiny, as teammates and fans alike wonder how the team will respond to damaged trust and the relentless barrage of criticism. The coming races may well reveal whether Team Penske can overcome this controversy or if the cracks within will widen even further.
