Joey Logano Baffled By Boos From NASCAR Fans: "Don't Think People Understand"

Newsweek

09-05-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano has opened up on the boos he receives from NASCAR crowds, explaining that he wish he knew why they feel that way.
During an interview with SpeedFreaks (below), the 34-year-old explained:
"I wish I knew. I mean I guess some of it is probably how I started my career. I made some mistakes on the way I handled things. I think some of that has carried over for a long time.
"Outside of that, I don't know. I don't put on a façade, like this is me, right? And I think it's confusing to people who see me smile and laugh and then race hard.
Joey Logano, driver of the #22 AAA Insurance Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 04, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Joey Logano, driver of the #22 AAA Insurance Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 04, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas."I don't think people understand how you can flip a switch like that and it comes [across] like I'm not genuine. I think that's some of it, maybe. I've tried to figure it out because I'd rather people not hate me — and there's a lot of people that don't — don't get me wrong."
Although the Team Penske driver would rather not receive the bashing from fans, he argued that the opinions that matter the most are those of the people who know him personally. He continued:
"Really, what matters to me, the industry people is probably the most because those are the ones that know me as a person in the garage or your family or team.
"Not that I don't care about what the fans think and I do, but they don't know me. They've never really met me or talked to me that much. So you kind of got to take it with a grain of salt. It does frustrate me at times but it is what it is. I can't change that too much.
"I just keep being myself and there is a lot of great (car no.) 22 fans out there, a lot of them. It's just for whatever reason, boos are louder than cheers, and I think people love to hate people. Hate is too big in our society but people love to do that stuff.
"I mean, people can go on social media, more people complain than give compliments. You can do that in the work environment too, people complain more than they give compliments on anything right, so it's just the world we live in I think."
NASCAR Cup Series: Current Standings