The 2025 Daytona 500 had no shortage of drama, and one of the biggest talking points came from a multi-car crash that took out several contenders. At the center of the controversy? Joey Logano.
Following the wreck, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon were among those who didn’t hold back in criticizing Logano’s aggressive move that triggered the pile-up.
The Incident: Logano’s Risky Move Goes Wrong
With the field tightly packed in the closing laps, Logano attempted a bold move to block a charging lane. However, his aggressive positioning caused contact, triggering a chain-reaction crash that collected multiple cars.
Kyle Busch, who was involved in the wreck, was blunt in his post-race comments:
“We’re all out here racing hard, but that move was just too much. You’ve got to be smart in these situations, and that wasn’t it.”
Four-time Cup Series champion and FOX analyst Jeff Gordon echoed Busch’s frustration, calling out Logano’s decision-making:
“Joey is one of the best superspeedway racers out there, but sometimes he pushes the limit too far. That was an unnecessary block, and it ruined a lot of drivers’ days.”
Logano Defends Himself
After the race, Logano defended his move, saying he was simply doing what it takes to win at Daytona:
“You have to block, you have to be aggressive—if you don’t, you’re going to get left behind. I hate that so many cars got torn up, but that’s just how these races go.”
A Pattern of Aggression?
Logano has long been known for his aggressive driving style, particularly on superspeedways. His approach has earned him victories—including the 2015 Daytona 500—but also plenty of frustration from his competitors.
While some fans admire his win-at-all-costs mentality, others see it as reckless—and Sunday’s crash only fueled that debate.
What’s Next?
With the Cup Series heading to Atlanta, another high-speed, pack-racing track, drivers will likely remember Logano’s move the next time they’re side-by-side with the No. 22 car. Will payback come sooner rather than later?
One thing’s for sure—this controversy isn’t over yet.
