If you have been following NASCAR for some time, you would surely remember an incident from the 2013 Auto Club Speedway race, which was out of the ordinary, to say the very least. The incident involved Tony Stewart and Joey Logano getting into a physical altercation after the race. The feud between the two drivers had been brewing for some time, and it finally boiled over during that race’s final restart.
Stewart was attempting to pass Logano, but was blocked. Eventually, he ended up finishing the race in 22nd place, while Logano finished third, despite crashing into the wall. The incident left Stewart frustrated and angry. After the race, he ran over to Logano to exchange words. Their conversation soon turned into a full-blown altercation, with Logano throwing a water bottle at Stewart and Stewart pushing him in return before being pulled away by officials.
Tony Stewart’s raging response in 2013
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In a profanity-laced interview immediately after the race, Stewart vented his frustration at Logano. The transcript reads, “He wants to b*tch about everybody else. And he’s the one who drives like a little b*tch! I’mma bust his a*s!”
Ten years later, in 2023, Stewart defended his outburst, stating, “I was ready… I was mad. I mean, it was literally an etiquette thing, I mean… and Joey said I was correct. If I got under there, he wasn’t gonna win the race, but just because there’s all that real estate doesn’t mean you own all of it.”
"I was ready. I was mad."- @TonyStewart on his Fontana interview from 2013 😂 pic.twitter.com/DJYOq1hYOn
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 26, 2023
Stewart’s anger stemmed from what he believed was Logano’s lack of consideration for other drivers on the track. “You gotta share with everybody else too, doesn’t mean you have to give it, but he takes more than he gives,” Stewart said.
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However, he acknowledged that Logano had matured as a driver since the incident.
How Joey Logano responded in 2013?
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Logano, for his part, had defended his move to block Stewart, saying he was racing hard and felt justified in his actions. But the incident left a lasting impression on both drivers and NASCAR fans, highlighting the intense rivalries that can develop in the sport.
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“I had to throw the block there,” Logano said, according to USA Today. “That was a race for the lead. I felt if the 14 got underneath me, that was going to be the end of my opportunity to win the race, so I was just trying to protect the spot I had.”
While NASCAR has made efforts to promote sportsmanship and fair play on the track, incidents like the Stewart-Logano altercation serve as a reminder that emotions can run high in the heat of competition.
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WATCH THIS STORY: “You’re Not as Good…” – Joey Logano Reveals the Impact of Early Success on His 15-Year-Old Self
The Tony Stewart-Joey Logano feud during the Auto Club Speedway in 2013 was a prime example of how intense emotions can lead to physical altercations in the world of NASCAR. While the incident may have been unsavory, it highlights the passion and commitment that drivers have for their sport.