Joey Logano has always been a name to watch in NASCAR, but few people understand just how early his journey began. At 15, he landed a development deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, catapulting him into the fast lane of professional motorsport. While it might sound like every young racer’s dream, Joey’s early start and the lessons he’s learned along the way give him a unique perspective on the pressures of high-performing child athletes.

And recently, he had a thing or two to say about it, offering parents of aspiring athletes in any sport a strong word of caution.

Logano sends advice to parents of young athletes

Logano’s racing career has been nothing short of stellar. Starting with quarter midgets at six years old, he climbed the ranks quickly, dominating Legends and Late Models as a teenager. By 18, he was the youngest-ever winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. But looking back, Joey admits his meteoric rise came with some drawbacks.

He recently sat down with Greg Olsen on the Youth Inc. podcast, where he opened up about his journey into racing and the role his father played in shaping his career. Growing up, his dad, Tom Logano, was an intense, passionate man, but Joey was quick to point out that his father never directly pressured him to succeed. “He never chewed me out if I made a mistake,” Joey Logano explained. “He was always supportive. But you always want to win for your parents, right? That’s a natural thing. It was like a partnership—we were doing it together.”

Logano’s racing story kicked off early. By six, he was tearing it up in quarter midgets in Connecticut. By 10, he was stacking up championships. But Joey’s father made sure that racing was always fun, and that approach left a lasting impression. But Logano has seen the other side of the coin, too. He’s witnessed kids at the track who weren’t racing for themselves. “It’s Dad’s dream, not the kid’s dream. And they robbed their kid’s childhood from it,” Logano observed.“If your child doesn’t absolutely love it—if they’re not eating, breathing, and sleeping that sport—don’t force it. Make sure it’s fun. Make sure they’re learning life lessons. Sports are a great way to teach resilience and handling loss, but they’re only a kid once.”

Looking at the next generation of racers, like Kyle Busch’s nine-year-old son Brexton, who’s already dominating in the junior racing world and just clinched his first Golden Driller at the Tulsa Shoot-Out, Logano hopes parents will keep things in perspective. “It’s exciting to see young talent,” Joey acknowledged. “But it’s also important to remember they’re just kids. Let them be kids.”

Joey Logano’s journey from the son of a humble garbage man in Connecticut to a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is exceptional. But his honest reflections on the pressures of early success and the role of parents in shaping young athletes serve as a reminder that, at the end of the day, sports should be about more than just trophies. It should be about passion, fun, and growth as a human being.

Joey Logano’s one regret about his racing career

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Joey Logano has no shortage of achievements with three Cup Serie titles to his name. However, that might be one of the things Logano regrets. “I wish I’d had more failure earlier in my career,” Joey admitted. “I was very cocky and arrogant when I first showed up because I’d never lost. I mean, I had every reason to believe I was the best—I never got beat. If I’d faced more challenges early on, I think I would’ve been tougher.” That confidence, while understandable, didn’t sit well with some of his peers when he entered the Cup Series. He probably got bullied a bit because of it.

His comments come when kids in motorsport are climbing the ladder faster than ever. Joey pointed to 12-year-olds racing full-size cars as an example. “It used to be crazy to see a kid that young in a late model,” he said. “Now it’s normal. And honestly, I think it’s too soon.” Even within his own family, Joey has mixed feelings about his son potentially following in his footsteps. His oldest son, Hudson, has shown some interest in racing but feels nervous about the pressure that comes with being the child of a three-time NASCAR champion.

“It’s different for him,” Logano explained. “When I was a kid, I was just Tom Logano’s son, the garbage man from Connecticut. There were no expectations. But for Hudson, he’s Joey Logano’s kid.” Logano’s reflections on his journey are more than just personal anecdotes—they’re a certified roadmap for parents navigating the tricky waters of youth sports. Whether it’s racing, baseball, or soccer, his message is clear: success shouldn’t come at the cost of childhood. And for Joey Logano, the key takeaway is balance.