“Look man, we’re not gonna torpedo Joey’s day over about 12 inches of asphalt.” Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s sympathetic words for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion surfaced after last weekend’s race. Barely had the Shriner’s Children 400 been flagged off – and Joey Logano landed in trouble. The No. 22 Team Penske Ford committed a restart violation. As a result, NASCAR handed Logano a pass-through penalty that relegated him to the back of the pack.

However, what baffled Dale Earnhardt Jr. and others was the puny nature of the violation. Joey Logano had fought hard to clinch a front-row spot beside William Byron for the race. To shatter his pace at the very first lap seemed egregious on NASCAR’s part. However, an executive of the sport defended the penalty.

The logic behind Joey Logano’s misfortune 

The 2025 season started barely a month ago, and NASCAR has already accrued flak. Be it the inconsistent green-white-checkered flag calls in Atlanta or letting off Austin Cindric’s right hook without a suspension, the sanctioning body’s executive calls have not been very popular. The latest happened at Phoenix Raceway with Joey Logano getting involved. The Team Penske driver usually drums up a lot of controversy himself – remember the gloves fiasco in 2024? But in a wild turn of events, his Cup Series compatriots took his side in Phoenix, including Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Jr. labeled NASCAR’s call as too “nitpicky.” He also claimed that Joey Logano “didn’t gain anything from it.” However, Mike Forde, NASCAR Managing Director, dissolved such doubts in a recent ‘Hauler Talk’ episode. He clarified that the penalty rules were outlined in the drivers’ meeting. “It was a bang-bang play. But as per the driver meeting video – rules for the race are communicated with each team. That is a black-and-white penalty foul.” 

To throw more clarity on the situation, Mike Forde replayed Alex Weaver’s reiteration of the rules. “For the initial start and for all restarts, stay in your lane until you cross the start-finish line. The front row establishes the lanes. And the inside lane must be established above the inside painted line.” Since Joey Logano did not egregiously flaunt the rule, even FOX Sports broadcaster Clint Bowyer sided with Dale Jr, calling it a ‘ticky tack foul.’ However, Forde emphasized that it still was a penalty, regardless of Logano toeing just 12 inches of asphalt. “It’s a judgment call. It’s not balls or strikes – it’s out of bounds or in bounds.” 

Mike Forde even drew a parallel with an NFL star to make his point. “It almost feels like Patrick Mahomes is running for a touchdown but his pinky toe stepped out of bounds… So that’s how we look at that particular one.” Going out of bounds in the NFL, NBA, Soccer, or any sport that involves boundaries is an instant penalty, no gray area, and that’s what NASCAR wants to have, too. Making such calls black and white only helps drivers understand what is and isn’t allowed, reducing inconsistencies in calls being made.

Mike Forde also highlighted the positive part of Joey Logano‘s run. The Penske star could optimally use Goodyear’s softer tires and finish in 13th place. “And he had a strong car – he was eventually able to make his way and didn’t even lose a lap. It was great to see for him – he was able to get back into the race and lead.”

Yet, this argument would hardly be enough to appease all NASCAR veterans. Besides Dale Jr., even Kevin Harvick was taken aback – and he was furious about something else.

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Inconsistency is getting on their nerves

Mike Forde may have given valuable points to defuse Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s concerns. But, NASCAR will not be able to escape the primary point of criticism it has faced in recent times. That is inconsistency – the practice of which has left drivers clutching their heads. The Damaged Vehicle Policy incidents in 2024 stand out in this regard.

Josh Berry bowed out of Kansas due to flat tires, and Ryan Blaney did the same for an on-track incident in Watkins Glen. Yet, during the Talladega race in October, NASCAR allowed Chase Elliott and a few others’ cars to be repaired after the ‘Big One’ broke out. This created a storm of controversy in the Cup Series garage, with people blaming NASCAR for its inconsistent calls.

That is what infuriated Kevin Harvick about the recent Joey Logano penalty in Phoenix. If Logano incurred a restart penalty, why did NASCAR overlook Denny Hamlin’s jumping the restart during the 2024 Richmond race? Harvick fumed: “I’ve got no problem with black-and-white calls, as long as we call the black-and-white calls all the time. Let’s be consistent. Figure out a way out of this one and not that one. Because there’s not that iron fist that is just ruling these Cup Series races and calling those calls like they need to be called.” He continued, “Those inconsistencies, like when they didn’t make that call with Denny (Hamlin at Richmond), that’s the kind of c— I’m tired of…It has been absolute c—.”

Evidently, NASCAR may need to explain a bit more to appease everyone. However, Joey Logano made the best out of his day despite the penalty, and let us see how he performs this week as the Cup Series moves to Las Vegas, a track where Logano has tasted success in recent times. Do you think he can turn his season around with a win in Sin City? Let us know in the comments!