Joey Logano opens up about issues with NASCAR's business model

Cup Series star Joey Logano has a major gripe with NASCAR‘s business model, and isn’t afraid to discuss it publicly.

Speaking with Kenny Wallace on his podcast Tuesday, the 2018 and ’22 Cup Series champion described NASCAR’s model as a “broken system.” He used his lone appearance in the Craftsman Truck Series at Bristol Motor Speedway this season as an example, a race in which he won.

“It’s a broken system,” Logano said. “I hate to say it, but it is so challenging to make it because you gotta have cash. Now, that’s not everybody, but you gotta be a standout. You better be ridiculously good today to get the opportunity that I had. Even today, I can’t go drive a truck without bringing money to the table. I went and drove that truck at Bristol this year [and] I had to bring a significant amount of money to go drive it.

“You would think you win a couple Cup championships, that you can go drive whatever you want, whenever you want… Nope. I gotta bring money to go race still. If the Cup Series champion has to bring money to go racing, what does an 18-year-old kid, 19-20-year-old kid that does not have a resume expect? I don’t know how you do it… I don’t know the fix. It’s too freaking expensive.”

Fortunately for Logano, he did get the opportunity to compete coming through the ranks, and it’s paid off in a big way. In addition to being a two-time Cup Series champion, the 33-year-old is a 32-time winner and a member of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list.

Joey Logano has stellar day in Enjoy Illinois 300

Through 15 races this season, he sits 12th in the points standings, having recorded one victory with seven top 10s and four top 5s. Logano is coming off a P3 finish in Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway after rolling off the starting grid sixth.

“I’m proud of the fight,” Logano said after the race, via NBC Sports. “We were mediocre – just outside the top five all day long. There was a group of cars that were a tick better than us. Then we executed at the end and beat a few of them. We tried some new things from last year, and we learned some lessons. But overall: Good. We needed a solid run. We’ve been going through hell here lately. So, it’s nice to get a top five, third place, and some points there in each stage. Good day.”