In a candid exchange ahead of the Daytona 500, Austin Cindric made a playful remark about Joey Logano and discussed which Team Penske teammate he’d trust with his personal car, putting a spotlight on the topic of Joey Logano personal car trust. The conversation unfolded during media day, revealing friendly banter and underlying competition among the Cup Series drivers.
Cindric Shares a Playful Dig at Logano’s Driving Style
During a media day session captured by Taylor Kitchen of ATYL Media, Cup Series drivers were asked which teammate they would trust to handle their personal vehicle. Austin Cindric chose Ryan Blaney over Logano, explaining his decision with humor, but also hinting at Logano’s aggressive reputation on the track.
“Ryan. It’s not that I don’t trust Joey to drive it. I just know that my tires will not be in the same shape as what they would before. Ryan definitely got a streetcar, more like grandma. So I’d rather be the one to tear up my own car than let somebody else do it.”
— Austin Cindric, NASCAR Driver
William Byron, another competitor, echoed the reluctance to hand over his keys, but added that he respected a fellow driver’s careful handling.
“Chase Elliott seems to take care of his stuff,”
— William Byron, NASCAR Driver
Meanwhile, Alex Bowman simply joked that he trusted no one with his vehicle, contributing to the lighthearted mood of the session. This series of answers displayed the camaraderie, as well as subtle jabs, shared among the group ahead of a major race.
Penske’s Tough Race Despite Strong Start
The fun atmosphere of media day quickly gave way to tension once the green flag dropped at the Daytona 500. Team Penske came into the race with momentum but ultimately faced setbacks. Austin Cindric showed early pace by leading laps, while Ryan Blaney stayed inside the top five during both stages. However, both drivers were caught in late-race crashes, leaving Cindric in 36th place and Blaney finishing 27th, several laps behind. Joey Logano nearly claimed victory, crossing the line sideways to finish third, but the day belonged to Tyler Reddick, who seized the win after leading just two laps.
Blaney Criticizes Toyota’s Dominance in Closing Laps
After the race, Ryan Blaney expressed visible frustration over Toyota’s control of the front pack in the final moments, describing how their team strategy hampered the rest of the field’s ability to challenge for the win.
“Spent some time fixing our car after the stage two caution. Then, we started in the back and then just kinda got trapped. Toyotas running 52-second laps and were blocking the whole thing. Never really jumped anything on the pit stop and just didn’t really go anywhere on the restart and got caught up in the wreck into one.”
— Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
He went on to point out that the scenario was anticipated, based on Toyota’s pre-race discussions and overall approach to the closing stages.
“It was going to happen eventually. They’ve talked about it, Toyota has. Get three cars and just block the whole field. Unfortunate. We’ve got to fix that. It’s pretty bad.”
— Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
Implications for Penske and the Season Ahead
This combination of camaraderie and competitive frustration highlighted the intensity surrounding the Daytona 500 and broader Cup Series competition. Austin Cindric’s playful comments about Joey Logano personal car trust captured a lighter side of racing life, while Blaney’s words illustrated real distress over team strategies and their impact on racing outcomes. With Team Penske looking to regroup after a challenging start, the team’s dynamic and on-track performance will be under close observation as the NASCAR season continues.
Any surprise answers in here? pic.twitter.com/ZybOg3Y9KX
— Taylor Kitchen (@_TaylorKitchen_) February 17, 2026
