Joey Logano fought hard for the top position in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, but ultimately settled for fifth place, as his teammate, Austin Cindric, claimed victory.
It wasn’t a smooth ride for the Team Penske drivers, as tensions ran high during the race. At the end of Stage 2, Logano was heard venting his frustration at Cindric. While Cindric was near the front, he had to back off and got out of position, which allowed Bubba Wallace to take control of the stage win.
Logano didn’t hold back in his criticism. “Nice job, Austin. Way to go, you dumb f—. Way to f—ing go. What a stupid s—. He just gave it to him. Gave it to him. Gave a Toyota the stage win. Nice job,” he ranted.
Logano ended up finishing behind Wallace in Stage 2, with Kyle Larson taking third and Cindric finishing in fourth. However, Logano’s frustrations were brief, as Cindric managed to recover and make his way back to the front, securing the win in the Jack Link’s 500. Logano ended the race in fifth, with Ryan Preece taking second, Larson finishing in third, and William Byron rounding out the top four.
This victory marked the third win of Cindric’s NASCAR Cup Series career, and his first win since the previous season. It was a significant turnaround from last year’s performance at Talladega, where Cindric finished 23rd in the spring race. This season, he’s had a solid performance, securing a top 10 finish three times already.
Despite the earlier tension, the race showed that Cindric’s resilience paid off, and Logano’s quick temper didn’t overshadow his teammate’s triumph. With a strong finish to the race and a win under his belt, Cindric’s performance at Talladega has positioned him for a competitive season ahead.
