Two-time Cup Series champion, Joey Logano’s day came to an end during stage 3 of the 312 lap feature as the driver was involved in a multi-car pileup in the Shriners Children’s 500. While the Toyota’s reigned supreme at the one-mile track with Denny Hamlin taking the pole and two other Toyotas clinching the first two stages of the race, Logano wasn’t about to go down without a fight.
Unfortunately for the champion, a stage 3 crash sidelined three-time Phoenix winner Joey Logano early from Sunday‘s race at the same venue.
Bad luck strikes again as Joey Logano crashes out in Phoenix
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Logano did his best, starting in the front row in the first three races of the 2024 season. At Phoenix, he doubled it, leading the pole-sitter Denny Hamlin during practice and promising a whole lot for Ford fans. But what they got in return was an anticlimactic finish to the Cup Series veteran’s day. Logano who set out to redeem himself of last season’s disappointment, getting ousted in the very first eliminator, seems to have a difficult time finding the rhythm to regain his lost form.
Look out! @joeylogano and @CoreyLaJoie are involved in this accident! pic.twitter.com/ZElCr89uJP
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 10, 2024
Things took a turn for the worse in lap 206 when the Legacy Motor Club driver and Xfinity Series sensation John Hunter Nemechek made contact with the #22 Team Penske Ford of Joey Logano who lost control and spun around, collecting multiple cars. After the mishap happened Logano, being a seasoned veteran, knew something was up and was heard radioing to his crew, “It’s killed,” essentially coming in terms with the fact that he was done for the day.
Big wreck in the middle of the pack. JHN got into the rear of Joey Logano and turned the No. 22 car. Corey LaJoie, Josh Berry, Derek Kraus and Zane Smith got caught up in it.
"It's killed" – Logano.
"That dumbass 42 turned the 22" – No. 7 radio
— Dustin Albino (@DustinAlbino) March 10, 2024
Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie, Derek Kraus, and Zane Smith were all involved in the accident as the Nemechek-initiated tangle collected these drivers in the process. Nemechek radioed in his thoughts, admitting his mistake, saying, “My bad, man. I didn’t mean to get into the #22. He slowed up way early.” On the other hand, after Logano’s run ended on a bad note, he vented his frustration in a post-race interview and revealed his thoughts about how the mishap could’ve been avoided.
Logano vents out his frustration after Phoenix goes out of his hands
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Even though Nemechek was heard on the radio, admitting his fault for getting into the #22 of Logano, the veteran was still disappointed with the abrupt ending. Nemechek’s late bump also had adverse effects for Corey LaJoie who was also involved in the crash. Post the race, reflecting on the accident, Logano did not mince his words but instead spoke his mind, sharing his disappointment.
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A frustrating day ends with a frustrating wreck for Joey Logano. He felt John Hunter Nemechek could have avoided running into the back of him. pic.twitter.com/XrHWOACJWY
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 10, 2024
Speaking to Bob Pockrass, he said, “It’s a shame. We weren’t running any good at all anyways, but, doesn’t make it better. Just fighting for lucky dogs, which, you get back there, and everyone’s racing not real good and I got caught up in it.” Logano’s criticism did not end there. The driver continued with his take, criticizing Nemechek and said, “You gotta lift to make the corners. You can’t hold it wide-open around Phoenix, and maybe he should take a look and realize he can’t do that, too. He drove straight in the back of me, and he needs to be man enough to own that.”
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READ MORE: Corey LaJoie: “Fought & Clawed” as Legacy MC Star Puts an End to the 44-Race Streak at Phoenix
Now that’s some harsh words coming from Logano. What do you think about his statement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.