Joey Logano responds to critics, clarifies comments about NASCAR fans being spoiled
Joey Logano said this week that his previous comments about NASCAR fans being “spoiled” were entirely taken out of context.
Making an appearance on “The Morning Drive” on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio last week, the two-time Cup Series champion said that in no other sport do fans get the kind of access like NASCAR fans do with drivers, especially before races.
“Our fans are spoiled,” Logano said, via Sportsnaut. “I love our race fans but think about other sports for a second. Think about it. When are you going to meet an NFL player? Can you meet an NFL player anytime, three hours before the game? But you can meet me 30 minutes, 15 minutes, five minutes before I strap into the car. You can take a picture with me. I am there. All the other racers are the same. We walk down the red carpet before a race, and all the drivers stop and sign autographs. Or at least we try to. It’s hard to get everyone to but that’s the norm in our sport.”
Logano faced criticism for the remarks, even from fellow NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar, who argued that Cup Series drivers could be even more accessible. Logano clarified his statement which fired up the racing community, saying that he meant to say that the access race fans get is “incredible.”
Joey Logano clarifies ‘spoiled’ comment about race fans
“We had the classic, pot-stirring click-bait thing that was taken out of context and then blown out of proportion. That’s what happened,” Logano said. “I guess I need to clear this up. Here is what I said: I said our race fans are spoiled because of the access they get compared to other sports and that got taken out of context as ‘Joey Logano says race fans are spoiled’ and that’s what not what I said at all. What I meant to say and what I did say is that the access race fans get is incredible.
“And I love it, by the way, because remember, before every race car driver was a race car driver, they were a race car fan and I remember being a child going to the race track and meet my race car driving hero. That memory is in my mind all the way through the season. The access that NASCAR gives compared to the NFL and NBA … shoot, I went to a Clippers game after the championship and they let me sit courtside. Coolest thing in the world, but I did not meet one player or think about one of them coming over to say anything. They had no public appearance right before the game.
“If I compare that to what NASCAR offers race fans, that a grandstand ticket, and this is a fact, before the race, you can come down, right down to [driver] intros, and stand right next to the cars in the infield. I go over and say hello to them, especially if they’re wearing a 22 hat by the way, that helps. I was saying, boy, as race fans, and I’m including myself, do not have a lot to complain about on that subject.”