Challenges Faced by Joey Logano: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Joey Logano's life and career.

Joey Logano is a professional stock car racing driver currently competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 22 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske. He has also raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series. Logano is a prominent figure in NASCAR, known for his successful career and competitiveness on the track.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

2003: Dogfight at Auto Club Speedway

At Auto Club Speedway, in 2003, Joey Logano had a breakout race, leading 41 laps. The final laps saw an intense dogfight between him and Hamlin; on the last corner, neither car lifted, both wrecked, while Kyle Busch slipped past and took the victory. Hamlin fractured his vertebra in the crash and after the race, Logano was confronted by Tony Stewart, who slipped back to 22nd after Logano blocked him on the final restart. Stewart pushed Logano, who responded by throwing a water bottle at him. Logano was scored in 3rd place.

January 2008: Disqualified from Toyota All-Star Showdown

In January 2008, Joey Logano was disqualified from the Toyota All-Star Showdown for crashing into Peyton Sellers on the final lap.

September 5, 2008: First Sprint Cup Car Appearance

On September 5, 2008, Joey Logano made his first appearance in a Sprint Cup car at Richmond International Raceway during practice for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, though he did not qualify for the race due to weather conditions.

2009: Early NASCAR Career

In 2009, Joey Logano showcased early promise by finishing fourth in his first Gatorade Duel and becoming the youngest driver to start the Daytona 500, though a crash resulted in a last-place finish. He achieved his first top-ten finish at Talladega and won the fan vote for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, finishing eighth.

2011: Struggles in the 2011 Season

During the 2011 season, Joey Logano faced significant challenges, resulting in a career-worst 24th-place finish in the final points standings. Despite some top performances, overall consistency was lacking throughout 2011.

2011: Logano's TV Appearances and Man v. Food Nation Challenge

In 2011, Joey Logano appeared in the A&E series The Glades, along with Carl Edwards and other NASCAR drivers. During 2011, he also participated in Man v. Food Nation, taking on the Atomic Bomb Challenge at Sticky Lips BBQ in Rochester, New York, but did not complete the challenge.

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2012: Missed Playoffs Since 2012

After a series of bad races, Joey Logano missed the playoffs by one spot, finishing behind Kyle Larson after having finished second at Richmond. This is the first time Logano missed the playoffs since his last year with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012.

May 2014: Four-Race Winning Streak Ended at Dover

In May 2014, at Dover, Joey Logano's four-race winning streak came to an end when Kyle Busch won the spring race. Logano finished third.

2016: 2016 Season Highlights

In 2016, Joey Logano experienced a mixed season. He won his first Sprint Cup All-Star Race, and the FireKeepers Casino 400. He secured his third straight pole at Martinsville. At Kansas and Talladega, Logano went back-to-back with DNFs from crashes.

2017: Turbulent 2017 Season

Joey Logano's 2017 season was marked by various challenges and controversies. He won the Advance Auto Parts Clash but faced incidents and mechanical issues that led to an 'encumbered' win at Richmond. Ultimately, he missed the playoffs despite his win at Richmond.

September 2019: Logano Diagnosed with Alopecia Areata

In September 2019, Joey Logano was diagnosed with Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that attacks hair follicles, leading to hair thinning or baldness.

2019: Logano in the 2019 Playoffs

In 2019, Joey Logano made it to the playoffs with two wins. At the Charlotte Roval, he recovered from a collision to finish tenth and advance. At Dover, a broken rear axle forced him to the garage. At Martinsville, a collision with Denny Hamlin led to a spin. Despite damage, Logano finished eighth and confronted Hamlin, resulting in a fight and a suspension for a team member. His title defense ended after being eliminated in the Round of 8, finishing ninth at Phoenix. At Homestead in 2019, Logano finished fifth, leading all non-Championship 4 drivers in points and finishing every race.

2020: Logano's 2020 Season and Championship Run

In 2020, with a new crew chief, Paul Wolfe, Joey Logano won Duel 1 of the Bluegreen Vacations Duels. He finished 26th at the Daytona 500 due to a collision, but rebounded with wins at Las Vegas and Phoenix. At Bristol in 2020, a crash with Chase Elliott led to a 21st-place finish. Two wins secured him a spot in the 2020 Playoffs, and he locked himself in the Championship 4 after beating Kevin Harvick at Kansas. He finished third in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway due to a late-race vibration and pit strategy.

2021: 2021 Daytona 500 and Bristol Dirt Race

During the final lap of the 2021 Daytona 500, Joey Logano led teammate Brad Keselowski, who attempted a pass with momentum from Michael McDowell, resulting in a fiery crash. While McDowell won, Logano finished twelfth. Later in 2021, Logano won the inaugural Bristol Dirt race.

2023: Logano's 2023 Season

Joey Logano began the 2023 season with a second-place finish at the Daytona 500. He scored his first win of the season at Atlanta, passing Brad Keselowski on the final lap. During the playoffs in 2023, Logano was eliminated at the conclusion of the Round of 16 at Bristol after being caught in a wreck. He finished the year twelfth in points.

2024: Logano's 2024 Season

Joey Logano started the 2024 season with a pole position in the Daytona 500, followed by a DNF. He served a penalty at the Atlanta race for unapproved safety gloves and was fined US$10,000. Logano won the NASCAR All-Star Race and US$1 million. He then secured his first points-paying win of the season at Nashville, and was later fined US$50,000 for spinning his tires near Austin Dillon's pit box. At the end of the regular season in 2024, Logano was seeded ninth in the playoffs.