Backup cars were a trending topic heading into the Daytona 500
Backups cars were a hot topic leading into the race weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Typically, each team would have a backup, for every car on the team.
Watch the Joey Logano crash video below.
However, a supply shortage with the Next Gen car created nervous moments for the teams. That became apparent when they dropped the green flag on two tame Duel races on Thursday.
Hendrick, Stewart-Haas Racing and RCR didn’t bring a backup car to the track. Team Penske brought just one.
Many teams have backups at the ready but they didn’t bring them to Daytona. However, those cars are the primary machines for the swing to the West coast in the coming weeks.
Joey Logano wrecks in Duel 2
The Daytona Duels nearly went without incident, in either race. However, on the final lap of Duel 2, Joey Logano was put in a position to defend the race lead.
As Logano went around a lap car on the outside, he pulled a train of three other cars. It was a four car battle for the race win.
Chris Buescher backed off the rear bumper of Logano into the corner. He caught the front bumper of Michael McDowell and got a push. Buescher closed quickly as they exited the corner.
Buescher looked to the left rear of Logano off turn two. Logano turned left to throw a block but Buescher was already there.
Logano turned right in an attempt to save the car. Instead, that just sent him directly toward the outside wall. He smashed the wall, nose first. as he bounced off the wall, Harrison Burton was collected.
Instead of starting on the second row in the Daytona 500, Logano will be buried in the starting grid.
Now, the team will go to work on their one and only backup car. Lucky for Team Penske, the backup car that could have been used for any of their cars, just happened to be wrapped in Logano’s scheme. However, the car isn’t ready and the team will spend the next two days swapping parts and pieces off the primary car and installing them on the backup, per the team.
Related: Daytona 500 starting lineup for February 2022 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Joey Logano comments
“I just made a mistake,” Joey Logano told Fox Sports after exiting the infield care center.
“Dang it! I didn’t think the run would come that quick. Even watching the replay, it happened quicker than I thought it would.”
“I knew the run was going to happen at some point in the last lap. I thought that was pretty early, I didn’t think it would happen there.”
“I thought I was still clear. And, I wasn’t. I apologize to my race team. I wrecked their car and tore up the No. 21 as well.”
“It was a dumb move. We’re in a position, to at worst, finish 4th. Just blew it,” Logano concluded.
Related: Daytona Duel 2 results from February 17, 2022 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Joey Logano crashes Next Gen car (Video)
Related: Daytona 500 TV Schedule for February 2022 (NASCAR)
Links
Joey Logano | Team Penske | Chris Buescher | Daytona International Speedway | NASCAR
