“Come on out,” Joey Logano challenges Stephen A. Smith to experience the NASCAR heat amid controversial athlete remark

Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano has extended a direct invitation to ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith. He wants the famous sports host to come to the racetrack, climb into a stock car, and feel the intense heat, G-forces, and physical toll that drivers endure every Sunday.

This latest chapter in their public back-and-forth highlights a deeper conversation about what it truly means to be an athlete in one of America’s most demanding motorsports.

The exchange began when Smith, during a segment on his Mad Dog Sports Radio show, pushed back against callers who ranked NASCAR legends like Richard Petty among the greatest athletes of all time. He argued that driving a car doesn’t qualify as athleticism, comparing it to activities that even older adults could do and grouping NASCAR drivers with golfers as skilled but not athletes.

For NASCAR fans and drivers, the comments struck a nerve. Logano’s invitation isn’t just trash talk; it’s a call for understanding the unseen demands that separate weekend warriors from professionals who battle for hours at speeds over 180 mph. This isn’t the first time the “are they athletes?” debate has flared up, but Logano’s measured yet pointed reply gives it fresh legs. As a veteran with multiple championships, his perspective carries weight in the garage.

1. Logano Fires Back, Sources Detail the Exchange

Logano addressed the media ahead of Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. Speaking via comments captured on X by @PitLaneCPT, he said: “Again, you know, until he comes to the racetrack and experiences it firsthand, shoot, I’d love for him to the racetrack. If you’re watching this, come on out. I would love to have you here, and once you get to that point, you educate your opinion about what our sport really is about and what we go through as athletes inside the race car, um, then you can go and have an opinion.”

2. Joey Logano’s Track Record and 2026 Season So Far

Logano enters the Texas race as the defending winner there, starting from 23rd on the grid. In 2026, through about 10 races, he’s posted a solid but inconsistent campaign: one pole, two top-fives, three top-10s, and an average finish around 19th, sitting 15th in points with 234. A 3rd spot at the Daytona 500 was looking good, but crashes and mid-pack runs have created a dent in his momentum. His CV is massive with three Cup titles in 2018, 2022, and 2024, and 37 career wins. That pedigree fuels his confidence in inviting outsiders to test the waters. Logano isn’t alone. Veterans like Kevin Harvick called Smith’s take “clueless,” urging those without racing knowledge to stay quiet. Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, and others offered their takes, ranging from dismissal to invitations for Smith to try it. Even Michael Jordan reportedly weighed in privately with Smith, given his ownership of 23XI Racing. The divide feels cultural. Traditional sports like basketball celebrate explosive athleticism that Smith champions—LeBron James-level dominance. NASCAR rewards a different blend: reaction time, strategy, endurance under duress, and the ability to perform when the body screams for relief. Drivers train like athletes because they are, incorporating cardio, strength work, heat acclimation, and simulators that mimic the physical beatdown.

3. What It Means for the Sport and Smith’s Challenge

This feud shines a light on NASCAR’s ongoing push for mainstream respect. As the series evolves with Next Gen cars, better safety, and diverse drivers, conversations like this test how the public perceives the athletes behind the wheel. Logano’s open invitation could be a PR win if Smith accepts. The sports content would blow the Internet. For now, the ball is in Smith’s court. Will the outspoken host take Logano up on the offer and step into the heat, or keep the debate from the sidelines? Fans on both sides are watching. NASCAR enthusiasts see validation in Logano’s words; sports debate watchers enjoy the fireworks.

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