Joey Logano opened up about the challenges of competing in NASCAR on the Donut Podcast with Joe Weber, emphasizing how Joey Logano racing resilience is forged through repeated disappointments and hard lessons. His candid reflections reveal how, unlike most sports, the odds in auto racing can devastate a driver, forcing personal growth through setbacks and perseverance.
Confronting the Harsh Realities of Racing
Unlike team sports, where the chances of victory are split evenly, racing deals a far less forgiving hand, with only one driver out of dozens able to celebrate a win while the rest must face loss. Joey Logano quickly learned this after dominating series such as K&N Pro Series, Busch East, ARCA Menards, Trucks, and Xfinity, only to be humbled when he reached the top-tier Cup Series. What seemed routine before—stepping in and winning—became a grueling struggle marked by intense competition and unpredictable variables.
Processing Defeat and Finding Motivation
On the podcast, Logano offered a raw look at the emotional toll of losing, describing the difficulty of maintaining self-assurance amid persistent setbacks.
“It’s hard if I’m being honest. It’s like these times, just it’s hard to stay confident when things aren’t going right. And we’re all human. I mean, you find ways to find little wins, do little things that can kind of keep you motivated and confident. Then the pain of defeat is real. And it needs to be. You can’t discredit it.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
He elaborated that the discomfort of loss has a valuable role in pushing competitors to improve.
“It’s supposed to hurt. It has to hurt to get better,”
he stated, underscoring that only by wrestling with defeat can racers develop the tools needed for success at the highest level. Over time, Logano has managed to harness that pain, using it as fuel rather than letting it sap his determination.
Transitioning from Young Prodigy to Seasoned Contender
Winning came effortlessly to Logano as a young driver. He recounted,
“As a kid racing, it was just bang, boom, boom,”
and
“I just jump in and win. I didn’t have to work at my craft. I was just good.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver. But the Cup Series presented a wake-up call that instinct alone would not suffice, as he faced rivals who had spent years perfecting their abilities and strategies.
Logano admitted stumbling when first confronted by adversity, struggling to cope with unexpected losses.
“I was not (a good loser) then,”
he confessed.
“I didn’t even know what to do I was just getting beat and I was like okay, like this has never happened before.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver. This struggle culminated in his departure from Joe Gibbs Racing, triggered by multiple subpar finishes and limited victories, which he called
“a whole slice of humble pie,”
an experience he now sees as necessary for his growth.
Building Mental Fortitude and Achieving Success
The setbacks forced Logano to mature, teaching him the importance of reflecting on failure, adapting, and building inner strength as a competitor. After joining Team Penske in 2013, he committed to transforming his mindset and methods, which eventually paid off. Since then, Logano has only missed the playoffs once and secured three Cup championships, a testament to the hard-won resilience he discusses openly today.
Logano’s journey illustrates that success in NASCAR is about more than raw skill or good fortune—it is built on the capacity to endure repeated defeat and still find reasons to believe in the next opportunity. As he continues competing at the highest level, Logano stands as a prime example for peers and aspiring drivers, proving that setbacks can be the foundation for greatness when met with persistence.
