It's been a difficult start to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season for reigning champion Joey Logano. Despite having good speed, Logano became the first

Joey Logano seemed like a man on a mission at the beginning of this past weekend’s race at Phoenix Raceway. However, that all changed when NASCAR controversially penalized him for a restart during Stage 1.

Team Penske's Joey Logano pitches in on the long-standing debate of whether NASCAR drivers can be considered athletes or not.

Joey Logano is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. He last hoisted the Bill France Cup just four months ago in Phoenix. On Sunday, the Team Penske driver, who qualified second, started on the front row in his return to the desert.

Joey Logano was penalized for a restart violation after he dipped below the yellow line before completely crossing the start/finish line during this past weekend’s race at Phoenix Raceway.

Joey Logano already had an affinity for Phoenix Raceway. The Team Penske driver had won on the mile oval three times, including the 2022 Cup Series title, and had 15 top-10 finishes in 31 races since 2009.

Coming out of the Shriners Children’s 500 in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, many were up in arms over the penalty issued to Joey Logano for jumping the yellow line before the start/finish line. The penalty sent Logano to the back of the pack in the race and significantly altered his race strategy.