Last week at Talladega, a surprising twist unfolded after Austin Cindric secured a hard-fought victory, but a different storyline took center stage: the Joey Logano radio rant. Logano, frustrated with his teammate Cindric, made comments over the radio that quickly spread across NASCAR headlines, capturing attention beyond the racetrack. Among those weighing in was Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones, who openly criticized Logano’s remarks and expressed support for Cindric, intensifying the drama.
Chipper Jones, a Hall of Famer in baseball, felt that Joey Logano had left Austin Cindric “out to dry” with his heated radio comments. The opinion carried extra weight, given Jones’s notable status in the sports world. This unexpected intersection between NASCAR and baseball only fueled interest, prompting reactions from fans and media alike. Joey Logano later responded to the criticism on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, attempting to clarify his perspective, but the firestorm had already begun.
Amid the growing controversy, Austin Cindric eventually broke his silence. Appearing on the Dale Jr. Download and at subsequent media events in Texas, Cindric was candid yet cautious as he addressed the Joey Logano radio rant and the Chipper Jones reaction.
I mean, I know of him, I know who he is,
Cindric said when asked about Chipper Jones’s comments, according to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
I don’t follow too much baseball, but to have someone like that, with eyes on our sport, a Hall of Famer, is really cool. Like I said already, the rest of it’s a lot of noise, but it’s cool to have someone like that behind me. But otherwise, yeah, definitely sounds like a NASCAR fan.
While Austin Cindric admitted to being a casual Braves supporter, he made it clear he did not want to add fuel to the fire. Cindric even chose not to wear his Atlanta Braves hat to a Penske team meeting, keeping it stashed in his truck out of respect for his relationships within the team.
No, well, the funny thing is that’s [Atlanta Braves hat] like my neutral hat that I just leave in my truck. Because I don’t want to like walk around advertising, hey, I’m a NASCAR driver if I can help it. So, it’s usually just the one, that or the Colts hat that I snag in my truck. That one [Braves hat] stayed in the hat box out of respect for my relationship with my teammates,
Cindric explained.
Team Penske, a group not known for tolerating conflict among teammates, faces mounting pressure to regain composure. Austin Cindric’s calm response to the controversy contrasts with the intensity of the Joey Logano radio rant, and it signals maturity as he works to de-escalate tensions and maintain team unity. The organization, however, has been struggling this season, with Logano’s difficulties highlighted by a disqualification at Talladega and Ryan Blaney grappling with wrecks and technical failures.
The significance of this episode stretches beyond one heated radio exchange. The Joey Logano radio rant and the Chipper Jones reaction have shone a spotlight on the challenges within Team Penske, raising questions about internal dynamics and the group’s ability to rebound. As the series heads to Texas, all eyes will be on Logano and Blaney to see if they can channel this tension into stronger performances, or whether the Joey Logano radio rant will mark a turning point in Penske’s turbulent season.
