Joey Logano faced a fine and disqualification from the recent NASCAR Cup race in Atlanta. The race itself was notable for its dramatic finish, with a difference of only 0.003 between the winner and the second-place finisher. However, the weekend also brought attention to a controversy involving Logano’s use of illegal gloves. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has now spoken out on the matter.
Logano initially qualified in second place for the Atlanta race but was penalized for violating the SFI specification. It was discovered that the 33-year-old driver had modified his gloves to manipulate the airflow around the car window. This led to his exclusion from the race. Several figures in the NASCAR community, including Earnhardt, commented on the issue.
Earnhardt, a respected veteran of the sport, suggested that Logano may have instructed his team to use these tactics to gain a competitive advantage. He emphasized that such actions go against the spirit of the sport, as they had never been seen before. Logano specifically increased the grip between his thumb and index finger to prevent air from entering the car through the window. As a result, Logano was fined $10,000 by the SFI.
Following this controversy, Xfinity Series driver Parker Kligerman shared his perspective on Logano’s penalty. Kligerman highlighted that several drivers in the series have used similar tactics in the past to gain an advantage. By blocking the air and reducing drag on the straightaways, these techniques have been employed to improve performance. However, it appears that Logano has learned his lesson from the incident in Atlanta and will not resort to such tricks in the near future.
Looking ahead, Logano is preparing for the next race in Las Vegas. He will be hoping for a better performance compared to his last outing.
