Penske defends drivers passionately at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — One of his drivers had just used a dominating run to capture his first career victory at famed Daytona International Speedway. The win was the 100th for the organization at NASCAR’s top level. To get to Victory Lane, his other driver offered an assist in the closing laps. Unrelated, he also spun another driver on the last lap to create more hard feelings.
So instead of basking in the joy of victory while wearing a champagne-soaked white shirt, Roger Penske was borderline angry in his impassioned defense of drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.
Keselowski’s victory Saturday night was his third of the season, first at Daytona after years of struggles on the high-banked superspeedway. He got a late push on a final restart from Logano, who then irked Kurt Busch when contact on the final lap sent Busch spinning through the grass.
Busch, a former Penske driver, called it “an aggressive mistake,” but his crew chief Tony Gibson fumed on Twitter: “Stupid is as stupid does!!!” Penske thought it was unfair. “Joey has taken, I think, some undue criticism from my perspective,” the team owner said. “I could name three or four things that certainly weren’t his fault. He’s one of the best drivers on the racetrack out there day in and day out, and sure, people make mistakes. A lot of these drivers can knock somebody off the track, and they say, ‘Hey, I’m sorry.’ They don’t let Logano do that.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m behind him 300 percent, and I’ll talk to Kurt, he didn’t do it on purpose. . . . At the end of the day, that’s racing, as far as I’m concerned.”
Indeed, Logano has taken his share of hazing from many veterans during his rapid rise into NASCAR. He was famous before he’d ever turned a lap, hyped as the next big thing, and many drivers took umbrage to the family wealth that eased his road to NASCAR’s top level.
Penske is used to defending Logano, who was recruited to the team by Keselowski three years ago when Keselowski was unselfish enough to look past a teammate who could match him on the track and saw only a talent who could strengthen the organization.
Penske is also used to defending Keselowski, who is outspoken and doesn’t back down from anything.