Joey Logano, the three-time NASCAR Cup champion, insists that his “win at all costs mentality” is not a reflection of his real self. The Team Penske driver explained on the ‘Stacking Pennies’ podcast that while the intensity shows up when he’s behind the wheel, it doesn’t define his overall personality.
Inside the Mindset Driving Racing Success
Logano’s fierce competitiveness is what has propelled him to secure three Cup championships since 2018 along with 37 career Cup wins. His drive to win intensely kicks in as soon as he starts racing, pushing him to focus solely on capturing the checkered flag. This mindset, he says, is rooted in a powerful desire to avoid the pain of losing, which outweighs the joy of victory in his mind.
“Yeah, I just think it’s there,”
Logano said.
I just want to win really bad, I don’t want to lose really bad. I think that’s really what it is because the pain of loss is far worse than the victory. It’s true, at least for me.”
His “win at all costs” approach even extends beyond racing into other areas of his life, like business. Logano described this as an all-encompassing competitive drive where the goal is always to dominate and come out on top.
“When I go out there, I’m like I’m here to win, and there’s nothing. And I’m like that in everything I do. If it’s business I’m like, ‘Yep, we’re out to kill, we’re going to knock them all out of business.’ That’s what it’s like, that’s the goal, it’s to win at all costs, that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Man Beyond the Racetrack
Despite the aggressive persona on the track, Logano emphasized that he is fundamentally a caring and deeply religious person at home, particularly devoted to his wife and children. He stressed that exhibiting a competitive nature doesn’t make him a bad person.
“You can have that attitude and not be a bad person,”
Logano remarked.
I think you can still be competitive, but I think you have to be able to go home at the end of the day and be like a normal person, like be a good dad, be a good Christian, be a good husband.”
Balancing this mindset between personal life and his racing career is a challenge, but he strives to excel in both realms equally.
“I also want to be the best at that. It’s a hard balance, but if the goal is just to be the best, period, in everything you do, then it’s pretty simple; it actually simplifies it a little bit.”
Striving for Excellence in Every Role
Logano shared that aiming for excellence consistently, whether at home or on the track, guides his daily efforts. This philosophy helps him separate his professional intensity from his personal values and relationships.
“Like if you go home, be the best dad you can be at that moment, or the best husband you can be at that moment, and when you go to work, be the best race car driver at that moment. … Let’s try to make it the best or just continue growing it at least with consistent growth,”
the Team Penske driver concluded.
Joey Logano’s reflections reveal that his Joey Logano win at all costs mentality fuels his achievements in NASCAR, but it does not overshadow his commitment to being a caring father, husband, and person of faith. His ability to switch between intense competition and personal warmth highlights the complexity of his character, ensuring that his competitive drive on the track does not define who he is off it. As Logano continues his career with Team Penske, this balance of fierce determination and personal integrity is likely to remain central to his identity and success.
