Joey Logano has fired back at former MLB star Chipper Jones following Jones’ public criticism of Logano’s conduct during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. The controversy began after Logano unleashed a profanity-laden rant on his team radio, expressing frustration toward teammate Austin Cindric for not following team strategy, which cost Logano a stage win. Jones, an Atlanta Braves legend and NASCAR fan, took to social media to criticize Logano’s harsh words and questioned his sportsmanship.
Logano responded during an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, emphasizing that Jones, not being part of the NASCAR world, lacked the context to judge the situation. He said, “No one else, nobody, Chipper Jones, no race fans, nobody is in the room when we come up with how we’re going to race at superspeedways except the drivers, the team principals at Penske and the crew chiefs.” He also expressed surprise that another professional athlete like Jones wouldn’t understand the complexities behind the scenes in NASCAR racing.
Despite the initial tension, the feud appeared to cool down after Logano’s victory at Texas Motor Speedway. Jones publicly congratulated Logano on his win, calling him “a Hall of Fame driver with a masterful win” and praising his hard-charging style and sportsmanship. Jones clarified he was not backpedaling but simply appreciating a great race and the professionalism expected of Hall of Famers.
The exchange highlights how even outside figures can stir controversy in NASCAR, but also how respect among athletes across sports can prevail after competition heats up.
