Joey Logano Unleashes Profanity-Laced Rant at Austin Cindric After Bubba Wallace’s Stage Win at Talladega
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway delivered unexpected drama-not from wrecks, but from a heated team radio exchange between Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Austin Cindric. The incident unfolded during the closing laps of Stage 2, with significant playoff points at stake.
The Incident: Cindric Checks Up, Wallace Wins Stage
As Stage 2 neared its conclusion, Joey Logano, a three-time Cup Series champion, was in a tight battle for the stage win with 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace. Logano’s teammate, Austin Cindric, was pushing him from behind in an attempt to maintain their advantage. However, as the field tightened, Cindric was forced to lift off the throttle to avoid potentially wrecking Logano-a common but critical move in the high-speed draft lines of Talladega.
This split-second check-up killed Logano’s momentum, allowing Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota to surge ahead and claim the stage win. The move left Logano frustrated, feeling that a valuable stage victory had slipped away due to a teammate’s error.
Logano’s Furious Radio Outburst
Immediately after the stage ended, Logano unleashed an expletive-filled tirade over the team radio, targeting Cindric for what he saw as a costly mistake. His words, broadcast with heavy censorship on television, left no doubt about his anger:
“Way to go, you dumb fk! Way to f*ing go. What a stupid s**t. You just gave it to him. Gave a Toyota a stage win… What a dumbass.”
Logano’s rant continued, blaming Cindric for handing the stage win to a rival manufacturer and demanding that the incident be noted by the team.
Aftermath: Disqualification Adds to Logano’s Frustration
Logano’s disappointment didn’t end with the lost stage. Although he initially finished inside the top six, NASCAR disqualified him after the race for failing post-race inspection due to a loose screw on the spoiler. Another Ford driver, Ryan Preece, was also disqualified for a similar infraction1. Team Penske released a statement accepting the penalty, describing it as an unintentional mistake and indicating they would not appeal the decision1.
Team Dynamics and Season Context
The public nature of Logano’s outburst raised questions about team harmony at Penske, especially after Cindric went on to win the race. While such radio rants are not uncommon in NASCAR, they are rarely directed so harshly at teammates, particularly within a high-profile organization like Team Penske. The incident highlighted Logano’s mounting frustration in a season where he has struggled to secure top finishes, managing just one top-10 result before Talladega.
Cindric, for his part, explained that he checked up to avoid wrecking both cars, a move that, while costly in the short term, may have prevented a much bigger disaster for the team.
Looking Ahead
With the dust settling, attention now turns to how Team Penske will address the intra-team tension. Logano’s outburst is likely to prompt discussions with team management, as such public criticism can strain relationships and affect future teamwork. However, with a long season ahead and both drivers showing speed, the team will be eager to move past the incident and refocus on championship goals.
Summary Table: Key Events at Talladega
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage 2 Finish | Cindric checks up, Logano loses momentum, Wallace wins |
| Logano’s Radio Rant | Profanity-laced, blames Cindric for losing stage win |
| Race Outcome | Cindric wins, Logano initially in top-6, later disqualified |
| Reason for Logano’s DQ | Loose spoiler screw, deemed unintentional by Penske |
| Team Response | Accepts DQ, no appeal planned |
| Impact on Team Dynamics | Raises questions about intra-team relations |
The Talladega race, while clean on track, proved that tempers and tensions can flare just as fiercely over the radio, especially when team strategy and championship points are on the line.
