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Joey Logano Is Not Happy With His Penalty In Phoenix Sunday

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Mar 9, 2025 5:13 PM ET

Joey Logano was no fan of NASCAR's decision to penalize him at Sunday's Shriners Children's 500 in Phoenix.

On Lap 18, the three-time Cup Series champion was hit with a restart violation that forced him to give up his lead and head towards the back of the pack.

"No way," Logano could be heard shouting over his radio. "It was freakin' nothing. That is ridiculous."

FOX's Bob Pockrass was shared with fans the rulebook definition of what Logano was penalized for and it still didn't seem to make sense to a lot of folks.

"At oval track events, once the green flag has been displayed at the initial start and all restarts, all vehicles must maintain their respective track position/lane established by the front row above the apron as determined by the inside painted line until they have crossed the start/finish line," the bylaw states.

This is the rule that governs restarts and the inside line: pic.twitter.com/ZuPasTEUn7
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 9, 2025

"And yet it wasn't a good call," a user said.

"This is written terribly," another claimed. "Joey was on the front row so he established the lane."

"Well that's much worse for nascar then what they said on tv..." a fan replied. "Common-use definition of crossed would mean he was in the clear, and this writing doesn't even suggest that 2 tires dipping below the line is wrong. Who writes these things? Why not publish the rules in advance?"

"Until they have crossed," another user quoted.

"The 77 follows the lane established by the leader so it's a no call for Hocevar," another person pointed out.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald's Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Logano is currently sitting in 17th place with roughly 200 laps to go at Phoenix Raceway.

Christopher Bell is leading the way with William Byron, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez and Tyler Reddick rounding out the top five.

Do you think Logano was deserving of the penalty? Or should NASCAR have let this one go?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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