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NASCAR Driver Admits He Was Wrong About The All-Star Race

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 20, 2025 12:05 PM ET

Joey Logano walked back his criticism of Christopher Bell following Sunday's NASCAR All-Star Race.

Bell thwarted Logano's efforts to win the exhibition race for the second straight year, edging out the reigning Cup Series champion in a thrilling finish at North Wilkesboro Speedway. On the 241st of 250 laps, Bell moved Logano up the track and passed him before winning by a fraction of a second.

After the race, Logano said Bell "gave me no option" and "kind of just ran me up into the wall." However, he softened his stance after reviewing the race footage.

"When I went back and re-watched it, I was like, that wasn't as bad as I thought it was," Logano told NBC Sports' Dustin Long on Monday. "If he did that (move Logano up the track) the first time he got to me, I'd be like, 'Dude, why would you do that?' But he made solid attempts to pass me. I ran him all up and down the racetrack."

Logano felt he "opened the door" to more aggressive racing as the drivers competed for a $1 million first-place prize.

"I set the tone that we're going to race like a**holes," Logano said. "It's OK that he did that to me. But in the moment you're just pissed, right? You're just like, 'He ran me up the track.' Then when I watched it, I was like, 'Nah, it's probably warranted.'

"So, I shouldn't have said that (after the race). You're mad. It is what it is. He knocked me up and then moved me up. Would I have done the same? Probably. Especially after someone ran me all over the racetrack like I did, I probably would have done the same."

This wasn't the first time Logano reacted hastily and lashed out at a fellow driver in the heat of competition. He called teammate Austin Cindric a "dumb f**" in his car at Talladega Superspeedway last month.

The 34-year-old acknowledged that he doesn't always handle defeat gracefully.

"I'm a really bad loser," Logano said. "I'm a sore loser. I can't help it. It is who I am, but I think that's also what makes us winners."

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

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