NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Logano Zinger Was Award Worthy
Joey Logano had some things to say after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gillette Fusion Proglide 500 at Pocono Raceway...
Larry Woody  | http://www.RacinToday.com  |  Posted June 09, 2010   Charlotte, NC
Joey Logano is looking to rally into Chase contention. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Seeing as how NASCAR has an award for everything else, how about one for Zinger of the Year?

I nominate Joey Logano’s classic crack at Kevin Harvick during a heated confrontation following last Sunday’s Pocono race.

Logano blamed Harvick for crashing him, and added:

“His wife wears the fire suit in the family, tells him what to do, so it’s probably not his fault.”

The swipe referred to Harvick’s wife Delana who famously dresses in a bright orange-and-red racing uniform identical to her husband’s during her pit-road vigil at each race. Many other wives also watch from pit road, but none wears a racing suit. There’s nothing wrong with it of course; it’s just, well, unusual.

Normally there’s no sharper tongue in NASCAR than Kevin’s, but in this case Logano out-Harvicked Harvick.

Aside from being amusing, the crack was telling. It revealed a fiery side of the talented young Logano that most us had never seen. Logano had always come across as a polite, mild-mannered, almost shy youngster. Suddenly he’s raging and pushing and having to be restrained from getting to Harvick.

I suspect Logano’s stock went up among race fans. We like our drivers to have a little salt and pepper.

This is not a dig at Harvick, but he’s the king of the wisecrackers and has made plenty of cutting remarks at his fellow drivers over the years. That’s what made Logano’s comment score so high – the zinger got zinged.
Joey Logano hits the wall after contact with Kevin Harvick at Pocono Raceway. (Photo: Getty Images)

Aside from the entertainment value, Logano’s outburst was significant because it indicated the pressure he’s feeling to get his season in gear. He is mired in 17th place in the standing with just 12 races to go to set the Chase for the Championship field.

Last Sunday’s wipeout was a blow to Logano’s hopes. He’s not out of it yet, of course, but he’s got some serious digging to do.

Harvick, meanwhile, went on to score a comfortable 4th-place finish at Pocono and maintain his lead atop the standings. Kevin is virtually assured of making the chase – only a major collapse could cost him 12 positions in the next 12 races.

I predict more temper boil-overs in coming weeks as Logano and other top drivers outside the Top 12 try to wrestle their way into Chase contention. And for each one who gets in, somebody’s gotta get out – no matter who wears the fire suit.

Larry Woody is a veteran, award-winning sports journalist. Woody began working at the Nashville Tennessean in the 1960s and took over the auto racing beat full time in the early 1970s. Larry can be reached at lwoody@racintoday.com

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Larry Woody

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