Joey Logano, the driver of the No. 22 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, faced a $50,000 fine after spinning his tires in frustration on Pit Road following a collision with Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Chevy Camaro ZL1 at Richmond on August 11th, 2024. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, recently shed light on the reasoning behind this penalty during an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Sawyer explained that the decision to penalize Logano was primarily based on the veteran driver’s extensive experience in the sport. As a two-time Cup Series champion with 15 years under his belt, Logano should have known better than to react so recklessly on Pit Road, especially in such a crowded and potentially hazardous environment. During the incident, Logano’s aggressive acceleration caused members of Dillon’s crew, as well as some of his family members, to scatter as his No. 22 Ford bore down on them. This action also drew a stern rebuke from a NASCAR official stationed on Pit Road.
Elton Sawyer said @joeylogano's $50K fine was consistent with past rulings, but also said it's a learning experience.
🗣️ "There's too many people out there, which is something on our side that we've gotta do a better job making sure that we're protecting (everyone on pit road)." pic.twitter.com/yOzSms2R2d
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) August 15, 2024
“Joey’s a champion, and he knows better,” Sawyer remarked. “We understand the emotions involved in such situations, but safety is paramount. There were too many people out there, and it’s our responsibility to protect everyone, from fans to families and crew members. Even though they were on the ‘hot’ side of Pit Road, we have security and NASCAR officials stationed there to ensure safety.”
Sawyer further emphasized the importance of caution on Pit Road, particularly during post-race activities. “Every week, we remind teams to be careful as they come down Pit Road after the race while we’re capturing all the cars. This incident was a clear violation of those safety protocols, and that’s why the penalty for Joey was so significant,” he added.
Despite the hefty fine, Logano was not penalized with a points deduction, leaving the financial penalty as his sole punishment for the incident.
