Kevin Harvick is stirring intense conversation in the NASCAR world after expressing disagreement with Joey Logano’s sharp criticism of Austin Cindric, following a dramatic incident at Talladega Superspeedway over the weekend. The controversy erupted Sunday when Joey Logano, a seasoned veteran and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, lashed out in frustration toward his Team Penske teammate, Austin Cindric, during the conclusion of Stage 2, after Bubba Wallace managed to clinch the stage win in Alabama. The moment, loaded with both adrenaline and disappointment, unfolded publicly over the team radio, painting a highly emotional backdrop for fans and competitors alike.
Logano’s heated rant centered on his anger at Cindric for seemingly slowing down and compromising the speed of his own car as they approached the start-finish line. This maneuver, Logano believed, cost him a crucial advantage and handed the stage victory to a Toyota driver. In a tirade heard by many and reported by outlets including The Athletic, Logano spat, “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.” His words, raw and piercing, captured the strained emotions of high-stakes racing and left a lingering sense of tension between teammates.
Since this outburst, Joey Logano has been on the receiving end of considerable backlash, not just from passionate fans and the media, but also from fellow drivers and even sports icons outside of racing, like Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones. Recognizing the impact of his harsh comments, Logano tried to set the record straight, explaining that he had already spoken face-to-face with Austin Cindric, and that both drivers aimed to put the turbulent incident behind them and focus on the future.
As the dust settled, Kevin Harvick stepped into the conversation, offering a critical perspective on Logano’s assessment of Cindric’s actions. Speaking on the latest episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, the respected former Cup Series champion evaluated the situation with a discerning eye, questioning whether Logano’s blame was truly justified, or simply a byproduct of the chaotic nature of superspeedway racing. Kevin Harvick stated, “I do disagree with Joey’s assessment of that. It looked to me like there was so much momentum going forward that he had to pop out of line and put himself, you know, in a spot where he wasn’t just going to ram into the back of the No. 22.” Harvick described the complex dynamics at play, highlighting that Cindric may have had little choice with cars pushing from behind and little margin for error at such high speeds.
Delving deeper, Kevin Harvick added, “I felt like there were a couple cars behind him pushing, and a lot of times what happens in that scenario is, if you just try to hit the car in front of you, then it stacks you up, and you’re already being pushed, then sometimes it spits you out and spins you out. So, it’s really kind of 50-50, as to whether you know that gripe from Joey is legitimate.” With measured but intense emotion, Harvick explained just how unpredictable and fraught these moments on the track can be, hinting that Logano may have overreacted in the heat of the race.
Further illuminating the driver mindset, Kevin Harvick noted, “From a driver standpoint, you always feel like you’re getting hung out like your teammate, or he could’ve helped you. You have this plan that’s laid out before the race with the manufacturers, and you’re expecting him to push you. I think there was more to it than just being able to push. But Joey definitely went off. I was a little surprised that he went off on the radio like that.” Harvick’s candid remarks underscore the emotional turbulence that drivers experience during the split-second decisions and loyalties of professional racing.
While both Logano and Cindric have since pledged to move past the incident, Kevin Harvick’s words add a heavier, more troubled dimension to the ongoing discourse. The disagreement hints at deeper tensions and the potential for future drama, especially in a sport where team loyalties and individual ambitions so often crash against each other. As NASCAR’s season barrels ahead, many will be watching closely to see how the relationships within Team Penske evolve and whether this episode foreshadows larger conflicts on or off the track. For now, Kevin Harvick’s disagreement with Joey Logano’s criticism stands as a stark reminder of the emotional intensity and complexity embedded in every NASCAR showdown, leaving fans and competitors alike questioning how such moments will echo through the remainder of the season.
