Danica Patrick retired from full-time racing after the 2017 Cup Series season. Since then, the former Stewart-Haas Racing Driver has been involved in numerous business ventures, including her own podcast.
Denis Hamlin recently appeared as a guest and the two relived some of their racing memories, including frustrating moments for Patrick when the Joe Gibbs Racing driver wrecked her. But it was during another discussion about retaliation that the 40-year-old former driver took direct aim at Joey Logano and made no secret of what she thought of his driving style.
Danica Patrick doesn’t hide how she feels about Joey Logano
With Bubba Wallace destroys Kyle Larson in Las Vegas and serving a one-race suspension, the retaliation has been a hot topic of conversation in NASCAR circles. With that as a backdrop, it was no surprise that Danica Patrick had Denny Hamlin as a guest. Quite intense podcast in which she asked him about retaliation and whether he thought NASCAR should intervene.
“They set a precedent when Matt Kenseth destroyed Joey Logano,” Hamlin said.
“Oh yeah, it was so exciting,” Patrick said. “For those who don’t know, Matt Kenseth was eliminated by Joey Logano. And he needed to qualify for the Chase by winning, and he was in the lead. (Logano) knocked him out, and then the next weekend at Martinsville, nothing happened while (Kenseth) was up there, top three, top five.
“But then once he lost a lap, he waited and got back on track. And when the green flag came down at the end of the race, he simply dumped Joey. And I, for one, am happy about it because Joey is a jerk on the track. It’s also someone else I don’t like, probably more than you. But he crushed me too. He’s just a little punk. Just look at his track record. Look how many people have a problem with him.
Patrick and Logano involved in scary accident with Aric Almirola
While Patrick and Logano have had several run-ins, most fans remember the last one in 2017 in Kansas. That’s when the #22 car made a sharp left turn toward Patrick’s right rear, which sent the #10 car for a hard hit into the outside wall that produced a shower of sparks.
Logano also raced back up the track to the wall and was hit hard when Aric Almirola was unable to slow down enough and crashed into the Team Penske car.
Moments later, with his car on fire, Patrick rushed out of his vehicle and walked onto the grass in the infield. She and Logano were not injured. Almirola, however, was not so lucky, as medical security officers had to dismantle his car to evacuate him. He was later diagnosed with a compression fracture of his back. He missed eight weeks before returning.
Logano’s aggressive style noted by NASCAR president Steve Phelps
Although Logano caused this accident in Kansas, it was later reported that it was due to a parts failure. However, the 2018 Cup champion has been involved in numerous other incidents without anything breaking. Hamlin mentioned this to Patrick on the podcast, suggesting that Logano would be considered on the more aggressive side of the spectrum.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps admitted as much when he talked about Logano’s driving style last year on the I am an athlete podcast.
“Joey Logano cares about this sport. I would say Joey is a little more – when he gets out of the car, he’s a phenomenal guy,” Phelps said. “Smart. Cares about sports. When he’s in the car, he doesn’t care.
“He has this change,” podcast co-host Brandon Marshall said.
“Rowdy said the same thing,” Channing Crowder offered, referencing Kyle Busch’s previous appearance on the podcast where he didn’t praise Logano.
“He doesn’t care,” Phelps said.
“He will come to you,” Crowder said. “He’ll buy you a drink.” He’s the nicest guy in the world.
“It couldn’t be nicer,” Phelps said. “When you enter the arena, he will, I don’t care who you are. I’m going to get you out.
Or, in Patrick’s terms, drive like a “moron.”
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