Austin Cindric has reacted to Penske teammate Joey Logano’s fiery comments following his victory at Talladega, marking a significant moment in their racing partnership. The incident unfolded during the final lap of Stage 2, where Cindric was leading in the #2 Ford but was forced to check up, allowing 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace to steal the stage win in his Toyota. Logano, who was trailing closely in the #22 Ford, expressed his frustration sharply over the team radio.
“Way to go, Austin,” Logano exclaimed.
Way to go you dumb f***. Way to f****ing go. What a stupid s***. God! He just gave it to him. Gave it to him. Gave a Toyota the stage win. Nice job. Way to go. What the f***.
Despite Cindric’s overall victory at Talladega, Logano appeared discontent after the race, asserting that he would “absolutely” bring up the scenario with Cindric.
When pressed for additional comments, the three-time Cup Series champion replied,
No, that’s between me and him.
In response, Cindric maintained his composure, acknowledging Logano’s frustration while emphasizing the importance of understanding the bigger picture.
I can understand his frustration without kind of seeing the whole picture,
Cindric explained.
These are the types of things that when you’re expecting someone to have your best interest, those are the challenges, right?”
Cindric further elaborated on the complexities of their dynamic, stating, “We have a lot of meetings centred around that. I feel like it requires constant maintenance. It’s not always pretty. The conversations aren’t always easy.” Meanwhile, Cindric celebrated his third career victory in the Cup Series, but Logano faced repercussions when his car was found to have breached NASCAR’s technical regulations, resulting in the loss of his fifth-place finish.
One of the 18 bolts on the surface of the spoiler that connect to the base was loose,” noted a statement from Penske.
This exchange between the two teammates underscores the pressures and challenges within a racing team, highlighting the intense emotions that can arise even amid success. As Cindric continues to develop his career, the implications of teammate dynamics will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping both their futures in the sport.
