The infamous Madhouse lived up to its name on Sunday. NASCAR’s Cook Out Clash race was peppered with several wrecks. Drivers lost patience while zooming around the 0.25-mile short track, failing to pass each other around the tight corners. However, a few of them took this endeavor a bit too far and got up on their rivals’ nerves. Joey Logano was involved, and he gave an apt response.

The 2024 Cup Series champion seemed to continue his successful streak in the season’s first race. Joey Logano clinched 4th place not far behind his teammate Ryan Blaney’s runner-up spot. But on the way to grabbing his top-five glory, Logano taught a lesson – which veteran crew chief Tommy Baldwin Jr. applauded.

Joey Logano’s retaliatory actions earn approval

Well, the Team Penske driver had a divisive fanbase by the end of 2024. En route to his third Cup Series title, Joey Logano underwent several controversial milestones. He cracked the playoffs only because of a quintuple-overtime victory in Nashville. Then, if not for Alex Bowman’s shock ejection, Logano would not have found a spot in the Round of 8.

So many people questioned Logano’s championship legitimacy. Yet seldom has Logano raised eyebrows about his clean racing. Carson Hocevar seemed to move Christopher Bell up the Bowman Gray track during the clash. Even Logano was involved as he responded in style.

Notably, Joey Logano spurred a chain reaction during the second half of the 200-lap event. The No. 22 Ford contacted the No. 20 Toyota, and the latter then hit Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevy. The latter unloaded a barrage of emotions, but NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour staple Tommy Baldwin Jr. thinks it was well-deserved.

He discussed in a ‘Door, Bumper, Clear’ episode: “I got no problem with Joey Logano sending the 77 because the 77 did the same thing to Logano. Everybody should know. Don’t do that to Joey Logano.”

Even John Hunter Nemechek was rowdy during the fourth heat race, engaging in a bump-and-run battle with Ryan Preece. But Preece then sent Nemechek into the barriers – which Baldwin applauded. “Nemechek drove through three or four people to get to Ryan to move the man away. I mean, it’s the first race of the year – not even four minutes into our season and you’re driving through people.” 

Then Baldwin shed light on a depressing scenario, for which he blames the lower regional series. “What pi–es me off more about racing nowadays is people just don’t try to pass you. They just drive through you. And it comes from the early divisions – the Legends and all that stuff – I hate them. Because they’re not learning how to race.” 

Yet ironically, Tommy Baldwin is flagging off his family to one of NASCAR’s regional series.

Paving the way for the future

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Tommy Baldwin Jr. may have disliked the early racing divisions, but he is intimately involved in them. His team, Tommy Baldwin Racing, is a permanent fixture in NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour. In 2022, he celebrated the Modified Tour owner’s championship at Martinsville Speedway with driver Doug Coby. Baldwin also has a sparkling Cup Series resume – he helped Ward Burton clinch a Daytona 500 win under Rick Ware Racing.

But for now, Baldwin’s focus remains on honing the careers of his sons Luke and Jack. They are starting off in the regional series – although Baldwin does not like the racing there.

But before Joey Logano can teach them a lesson, Baldwin’s sons have a long way to go. His son Jack grabbed the 2023 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing title in the 602 Modified Division. Luke is just starting in 2025. He will pilot the historic No. 7NY to compete for Rookie of the Year honors under TBR.

And Tommy Baldwin is excited about his son’s career. “Putting Luke up against the best of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is important to us. He’s going to have a busy year but we’re excited to see him run for the Rookie of the Year and also excited to chase the owner championship again with the 7NY.”

Clearly, this is not related to Baldwin’s opinions about the Clash wrecks. Joey Logano’s retaliation may spell a more chaotic Cup Series season ahead, so buckle your seatbelts!