Logano has no hard feelings after getting ‘fenced’ at Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 05: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Pennzoil Ford, spins into the infield grass after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The last time the NASCAR Cup series was at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Joey Logano was basking in the glow of his third of what would be four wins in the 2022 season.

That was last October. Logano would win again, that win coming at the final race of the season at Phoenix that sealed his second NASCAR Cup championship.

This most recent visit won’t be such a happy memory.

The weekend started great. Logano was strong in the only practice and grabbed the pole on Saturday. Sunday, he led the first nine laps but began to struggle finishing both Stages outside the top 10. The crew didn’t give up however, but all hopes were dashed on lap 184.

On the outside of a three wide battle with Brad Keselowski in the middle, and Kyle Busch on the bottom, Logano’s Ford was sent into the outside wall and across the grass in the frontstretch infield bringing out the race’s first natural caution.

He was able to drive away and make it back around to the pits, but the rear suspension on his Ford was too damaged and he became the only driver to be scored with a DNF, in last place. It was his first DNF since Bristol last September.

““Considering how we’ve been here in the past, you kind of expect it a little bit more performance today than what we had,” Logano said. “Just off on overall speed. We had the balance somewhat close – just not fast. We have to go back to the drawing board for when we come back here.”

It also his first DNF at Vegas, a track he has three career wins at. Logano however, wasn’t ready to put the blame on the crash to any one driver, only admitting that Keselowski had pushed him into the wall, and out of the race.

“Yeah, he did,” Logano said. “I’m sure he didn’t mean to do it. It is what it is. What are you going to do, right? We got fenced.”

Greg Engle