Kevin Harvick has offered his unique perspective on the ongoing mixed reception Joey Logano receives from NASCAR fans, shedding light on why the chorus of boos continues to follow Logano at racetracks around the country. Speaking during his Happy Hour show this week, Harvick addressed the reasons behind Logano’s polarizing reputation, delivering insight into the factors that have shaped Logano’s relationship with the NASCAR audience.
According to Kevin Harvick, the source of Joey Logano’s notoriety can be traced back to actions and incidents from earlier in Logano’s career, particularly feuds and on-track confrontations.
“I think a lot of that comes from the first part of his career and just the run-ins and situations and some of the timing of some of his comments and things that he said,”
Harvick explained. He continued, emphasizing that Logano is largely unbothered by the crowd’s negative response, highlighting the driver’s mental resilience and unshakable confidence in both his personal ability and his team’s strengths.
“But none of that bothers him anymore. He is so confident in his ability and his team’s ability to overcome things and do things. He’s not shy about commenting on controversial things or situations or somebody else or whatever that is,”
said Kevin Harvick. The veteran driver went on to praise Logano’s mental fortitude, noting,
“I think just being able to control that mentally and being able to deal with that mentally is something that (a) comes with experience, but (b) not a lot of people can do well, especially where we are in today’s NASCAR driver lineup. So he does that part better than most, and in the end, it puts him in a position to win more races than most people.”
Throughout his career, Logano has not shied from controversy. Early in his rise, he was embroiled in memorable feuds with drivers like Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. Only last week, Logano sparked headlines by publicly criticizing his Penske teammate, Austin Cindric, for allowing Bubba Wallace to win a stage at Talladega, which then led to Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones weighing in after Cindric captured the race victory. Such incidents undoubtedly contribute to the intense reactions Logano often receives from fans, as well as his lasting image as a polarizing figure in motorsports.
However, Kevin Harvick made it clear that despite the mixed reactions, Joey Logano’s talent cannot be overlooked. Recently, Logano demonstrated his skill by capturing his 37th career Cup Series victory at Texas Motor Speedway, adding to an already impressive record that includes a 2015 Daytona 500 win and three Cup Series championships. Last year, Logano was recognized as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers, cementing his status in the sport’s history.
Asked about his ambitions, Logano recently spoke to reporters with enthusiasm about his desire to win the Coca-Cola 600.
“The Coca-Cola 600 is special because of what it is. It’s also special because I’ve been a Coca-Cola racing family member for my whole career, from day one, 16 whatever years ago it was. It’s been a long time,”
Logano said, underscoring his passion for both the iconic race and the Memorial Day weekend it coincides with.
In the eyes of Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano’s journey through adversity and controversy has only served to strengthen the driver’s resolve, setting him apart in the current NASCAR landscape. While the chorus of boos may persist, Logano’s proven track record and unwavering confidence indicate that he is likely to keep winning, regardless of public opinion. The ongoing dialogue about fan reactions, fueled by Harvick’s perspective, signals that Logano’s impact—both on and off the track—is far from fading.
