‘Confused, pissed off, depressed’ - Joey Logano Gets Brutally Honest on Darlington Struggles

Joey Logano opens up about the emotional toll of a difficult Darlington race, describing frustration, anger, and embarrassment in a candid post-race reflection

Surbhi Khera
April 1, 2026
4 min read

‘Confused, pissed off, depressed’ - Joey Logano Gets Brutally Honest on Darlington Struggles — Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The 2026 Goodyear 400 had everything, a comeback win, late-race drama, and a dominant drive to the finish. But further down the order, it also had a quiet unraveling that told a very different story. Not every race is loud in how it goes wrong.

While Tyler Reddick powered through issues to secure another win, the mood inside another camp was far less settled. For the Team Penske driver, things never really clicked from the opening laps. The gap between expectation and reality showed early.

The American racing star kept searching for answers as the race went on. Adjustments were made, but nothing seemed to shift the bigger picture. It felt like chasing something that stayed just out of reach.

By the time the race settled, the result was only part of the story. The more telling part was the experience inside the car. And that’s where the frustration began to feel real as per Joey Logano’s latest comments.

1. Joey Logano on battling the negative emotions post last week Darlington race

Speaking after the race, the Team Penske driver Joey Logano walked through how the day unfolded in real time. He explained that it began with confusion, saying you first start thinking ‘what’s going on’ when the car doesn’t respond the way it should. The American driver noted that early adjustments brought little comfort. He said you swing at it a few times, hoping something lands, but sometimes the progress is barely noticeable. ‘Then you start to get pissed off, right?,’ said the driver calling it the normal reaction. ‘And then by the end, you’re a little depressed. And then you’re a little embarrassed at the end of all that,’ said Logano trying to brush off the despair. As the race continued, that confusion gradually gave way to frustration. ‘So it’s just, you get all the negative emotions. It’s just part of competing, right?’, further added the driver pointing where things stop being technical and start feeling personal. It is less about setup and more about emotion at that point. Even in a sport built on precision, there are days when nothing lines up. And for the two-time Cup Series champion, this was clearly one of them.

2. Joey Logano is embracing the agony while he eyes the glory of success

Looking at the bigger picture, the NASCAR champion framed it as part of the sport itself. Logano explained how those reactions are tied directly to effort. The American racer even compared the experience to moving through emotional stages. He acknowledged that it might sound like a cycle, but said that is simply what happens when you care deeply about the outcome. He further pointed out that if you are invested and trying hard, you are going to feel those lows when things do not go your way. ‘If you want the glory of winning, sometimes you got to go through the agony of the defeat,’ said the racer, calling it the natural chronology of dealing with grief. In the end, the takeaway was simple and grounded. For a driver used to success, Darlington served as a reminder that even at the top level, some days are just meant to be endured rather than explained.

3. What’s next for Joey Logano

For Joey Logano, Darlington was not an isolated result. The American driver has been going through a rough patch, with a 33rd place finish at Darlington and an 18th at Atlanta adding to the frustration. It has been a stretch where things have not quite come together. Even before that, results were mixed. He secured pole at Phoenix but ended up finishing 31st, and followed that with a 15th place run in Las Vegas. The pace has been there at times, but the finishes have not matched. Despite that, the 34 year old is looking ahead. Martinsville Speedway now presents a chance to reset, and the Team Penske driver has expressed confidence about turning things around. It is the kind of track where experience can still make a difference. Away from the track, he has stayed active as well. From becoming a part owner of a Huntersville Ford dealership to continuing work through his foundation, the focus has not shifted even if the results recently have.