Joey Logano found himself at the center of attention this week, sharply addressing comments made by MLB Hall of Famer Chipper Jones following Sunday’s dramatic NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega. The controversy unfolded after Logano called out his Team Penske teammate, Austin Cindric, on the radio, expressing frustration over what he perceived as a lack of support during a pivotal stage—criticism that soon became the subject of Jones’s pointed social media posts.
During the closing laps at Talladega, Logano’s hopes of a stage win faded when Cindric, rather than pushing him forward, opted for a different strategy. Frustrated, Logano aired his thoughts on the team radio, calling Cindric a “dumb m*********r” and accusing him of undermining their shared objective. Meanwhile, Cindric explained that he was merely avoiding a potential wreck as he was closing in too quickly. Ultimately, Cindric secured the victory, and social media ignited with opinions—none more notable than those of Chipper Jones.
Chipper Jones remarked on the incident with his own brand of commentary, posting on social media about certain athletes prioritizing team spirit only when they get to play the hero. In a direct callout, Jones tweeted, “Some people are ‘hooray for our team as long as I’m the star’ as every team has them. Hendrick, RCR, JGR, Penske, etc. Sometimes karma is glorious. Enjoy this one! In case anyone is confused, lemme be clear…@joeylogano.” His comments drew immediate attention from both racing fans and those in the wider sports world.
On Tuesday, Joey Logano responded to Chipper Jones’s NASCAR comments during an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Logano did not mince words, saying, “That’s like me saying something about baseball. I know nothing about baseball. That’s like me saying something that he did something in baseball that was wrong. That doesn’t matter.”
Expanding on his point, Logano emphasized the importance of insider knowledge, stating, “You care about what people say, their opinion, if you really know them and they know you and they understand the scenario and the situation. Everyone is going to have their opinion on how they see things from the outside.”
Logano made it clear that only those present during critical team discussions—drivers, team principals, and crew chiefs—truly understand the dynamics at play, dismissing external opinions as uninformed. He explained, “Nobody, Chipper Jones, no race fans, nobody is in the room when we come up with how we’re going to race at superspeedways except the drivers, the team principals at Penske and the crew chiefs. That is it. That’s the only opinions that matter. The only ones.”
Joey Logano was candid about his disregard for Jones’s remarks, insisting, “So everyone can go off and talk about whatever they want. They don’t know the situation. They don’t know everything that goes into it, so it doesn’t matter what they say, and that’s probably why I never saw [Jones’ comments] or really care about it after you tell me right now.”
While showing some respect for Jones’s achievements, Logano reiterated that experience in one professional sport does not translate to expertise in another. “Chipper Jones, he seems like a cool dude, he’s done a lot, right? He’s a pretty popular, good baseball player, but he’s not a race car driver, and I know he wasn’t in the room with us when we set in place the way things are supposed to go,” Logano remarked.
Reflecting on the broader message, Logano voiced surprise at Jones’s public critique, suggesting that seasoned athletes should understand the unseen factors behind high-stakes decisions. “You would think somebody that has been in professional sports and has been in meetings like that would probably take a step back and say, ‘Man, there’s probably more to the story here than what there is.’ I’m surprised it went that way. Maybe he was just bored. I don’t know what his situation is. I tell you I don’t care.”
This public clash between Joey Logano and Chipper Jones spotlights the tensions that arise when outside voices weigh in on racing’s high-pressure moments, adding emotional intensity and public scrutiny to an already volatile situation. The fallout may prompt deeper conversations about teamwork, expert criticism, and the boundaries of sports commentary going forward in the competitive world of NASCAR.
