As NASCAR prepares for its upcoming race on the Chicago Street Course, Joey Logano acknowledged the distinct challenges drivers face adapting to the technical narrow city streets, especially when competing against Shane van Gisbergen’s exceptional street racing skills. The focus on Joey Logano NASCAR street racing highlights how veteran drivers grapple with the intense pressure in this evolving format.
Shane van Gisbergen’s Dominance Casts a Long Shadow Over Competitors
Shane van Gisbergen, a Supercars legend from New Zealand, made a remarkable debut in the NASCAR Cup Series by winning the 2023 Chicago Street Race, quickly followed by an Xfinity Series win in 2024. Returning now as a full-time Cup driver, van Gisbergen remains the clear favorite due to his unparalleled road course expertise. His background in Australia’s Supercars Championship has given him an edge on tight, technical street circuits that many NASCAR regulars, accustomed predominantly to oval tracks, find difficult to match.
While most Cup Series drivers have spent their careers perfecting oval racing, van Gisbergen arrives with extensive experience mastering the twists, elevation changes, and close-quarters driving demanded by street racing. This gap in racing backgrounds places significant pressure on competitors, forcing even seasoned drivers like Logano to take risks beyond their usual comfort zones.
During a pre-race discussion, Logano opened up about the mental and physical demands of battling on a street course against a driver of van Gisbergen’s caliber. When asked if the challenge was more about patience than pure speed, Logano responded candidly:
“Yeah, it’s easy to say that until Shane’s out there a second faster than you and you got to go put yourself in some uncomfortable situations, right? Like it’s easy to say that but you got to figure out how to go fast. And last I checked with this car, there’s no going fast in your comfort zone.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
This insight reflects the fine margin for error on the Chicago circuit, where the demands of street racing force drivers to push their limits repeatedly. The psychological challenge is just as significant; knowing van Gisbergen’s natural edge changes how Logano and his peers approach every turn, often compelling them to drive at the edge of control to attempt to keep pace.
Adapting to the Streets: NASCAR Drivers Confront New Realities
Logano further elaborated on how the unfamiliar nature of street courses adds to the challenge for NASCAR drivers, whose strengths traditionally lie on oval tracks. He admitted that much of the field is effectively trying to catch up to van Gisbergen’s superior road racing skill set. Logano stated:
“You just got to be pushing outside of where you feel like you’re comfortable and this track’s no exception to it.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
“If anything, it’s just a little bit more out of your comfort zone. Probably because we haven’t done it much, right? Like we’re not ‘road racers’ to speak of, right? There’s only one out there that really is. And so, all of us are in a way playing catch-up.”
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
His comments highlight how NASCAR’s expansion into road courses has exposed a gap in experience for most drivers, who remain oval racing specialists. Van Gisbergen’s presence has only intensified this dynamic, turning street racing from a novelty event into an exacting benchmark that demands rapid adaptation.
The arrival of van Gisbergen and his instant success underscores the growing significance of road course proficiency in NASCAR. For established stars like Logano, it means confronting new challenges requiring greater precision, mental resilience, and a willingness to race beyond familiar limits.
Looking ahead, the key question revolves around whether NASCAR’s veterans can close the gap against van Gisbergen’s street racing mastery or if he will continue to dominate and redefine expectations on circuits like Chicago.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does Joey Logano have cerebral palsy?
A. Due to complications during his birth, Joey experienced a brain hemorrhage, resulting in a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. Consequently, he requires extensive physical therapy.
Q. What medical condition does Joey Logano have?
A. After two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano found out he had alopecia, he wanted to understand the condition and boost his confidence. He contacted HairClub, where experts explained alopecia and suggested possible solutions.
Q. What sickness did Joey Logano have?
A. The cause was a stomach virus, but Logano pushed through to finish the race. “I was hit by the Norovirus,” he told reporters. “I felt okay, but right before the race, I knew I wasn’t well,” Logano shared with the media, according to Steven Taranto from CBS Sports.
