Joey Logano, the defending winner of the NASCAR All-Star Race, was left visibly upset after a controversial late-race rule change at North Wilkesboro Speedway resulted in him finishing second on Sunday. In a move that has sparked intense debate, the introduction of the “Promoter’s Caution” forced drivers to quickly decide whether to pit or stay out, leading to significant strategy shakeups in the closing laps. As Christopher Bell claimed victory by opting for new tires, Joey Logano chose to stay out, a decision that ultimately cost him the race and the million-dollar prize.
This latest All-Star event saw Joey Logano’s No. 22 Mustang get pushed up into the wall, courtesy of Bell making a decisive move after the caution. Logano, long known for his competitive edge and dislike of racing gimmicks, did not mince words post-race. Speaking with reporter Kyle Dalton, he expressed his frustration with the unorthodox caution, noting it adversely affected the outcome and denied him the chance at back-to-back All-Star wins. In his own words, Logano described the situation as deeply unfair, pointing out that the imposed tire disadvantage made it nearly impossible to recover or overtake Bell in the final laps.
Commenting further on social media, Joey Logano directed some of his frustration at Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith, highlighting the disconnect between drivers and event organizers over the new rule. NASCAR fans, too, echoed Logano’s displeasure, voicing skepticism over whether such cautions belong in a race meant to highlight the sport’s best talents. Despite the setback, Logano insisted,
“It was the tire disadvantage, there was nothing I could do to shrink that gap. That’s not racing.”
While Logano must now move on to next week’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he will again race head-to-head with Bell, the sting of losing not just the winner’s trophy but also the hefty cash prize lingers. The incident has already sparked calls for NASCAR to reconsider the implementation of the Promoter’s Caution, at least for non-points events, as drivers and fans alike question its fairness and necessity. Only time will tell if Joey Logano’s criticism leads to a re-evaluation of the rules, but for now, the frustration surrounding Sunday’s outcome is sure to resonate throughout the racing community.
