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Watch: Dejected Joey Logano laments the Daytona 500 loss despite having a ‘rocket ship’ after getting collected in the 22-car mega wreck

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Justin P Joy | Last updated 2/21/24

Joey Logano’s hopes of winning his second Daytona 500 ended in huge disappointment as he got wrecked with just eight laps left in the race while fighting for the lead. While Logano was at the infield care center, Willaim Byron and Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports, who caused the wreck, secured a 1-2 finish in the 2024 season opener.

On lap 192 of the race, there was a three-way battle for the lead, with Ross Chastain in the lead. Bowman, who had a good run, pushed Byron a little too much, resulting in the No:24 making contact with Brad Keselowski in the No:6 RFK Racing Ford. The 2012 champion lost control of his car on the inside lane and made contact with Logano on the outside lane. Both proceeded to cause a big wreck.

Logno had his teammate Ryan Blaney behind him to give a good push before the incident and was hoping to have a great finish, as his No:22 Mustang was the best car of the day. But when it comes to winning in Superspeedways, the key is surviving the last 10 laps, and luck ran out earlier for the two-time champion in his effort to do the same.

So, we felt like if I can keep the twelve with me, I'm going to be in a decent spot. And just didn't work out. The car was so fast. Car was the fastest car on the track. I can lead a line. Whenever we weren't saving fuel, she was a rocket ship. How this game works, the wreck always starts in the front and you hope you're in front of it. Logano told Matt Weaver.

"It's usually the guys who start the wreck that survive. That's the frustrating part."

Joey on having the fastest car and what happened in the crash pic.twitter.com/lwXVi9nkDt
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 20, 2024

Joey Logano is frustrated as the drivers caused the wreck to secure a race win

While talking further about the incident, Logano pointed out that late-race wrecks are part of this form of racing, and at the end of the day, the luckiest drivers survive such incidents to finish up front. He admitted that it was frustrating to see the driver who caused the wreck go on to win the events.

You can't just sit there and not race because if you'll be too far back, it won't win that way. You just got to be one of the lucky guys right now. Like the 24 to 48 to do nine that are still alive to do it. There's usually the people that start the wreck that stay alive. That's the frustrating part. Logano said.

The 2024 season is expected to be a redemption year for Logano after a poor title defense in 2023. With the fastest car that was fielded on Monday, Team Penske has set the tone for the season, and with good execution and a bit of luck, Logano can win the third title this year.