Before heading into a big race like the Daytona 500, drivers have several strategies, preparations, and even superstitions to give them an edge. For Joey Logano, it was all about keeping one thing intact: his car’s paint job. “It’s only been raced twice before this in Indycars. Won both times, so the pressure’s on to keep this paint job undefeated,” he said a few days ahead of the race. But his wish wasn’t fulfilled, thanks in large part to himself and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
A late-race crash on Lap 185 involving Ricky Stenhouse Jr. changed everything, setting off a multi-car wreck that took out several contenders. But, unlike the typical NASCAR driver behavior that is expected, Stenhouse Jr. took an unexpected approach. In a post-race interview, instead of placing blame, he chose not to hold Logano responsible for the incident.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. takes the high road
With just 15 laps remaining in the Daytona 500, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. found himself in the middle of a chaotic multi-car wreck that ended his hopes of a comeback victory at The Great American Race. The incident started when Joey Logano attempted to make a move to the inside while a brave Stenhouse defended his position with a late block. The Penske driver’s front bumper clipped Stenhouse’s left rear quarter panel, sending him spinning into Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney. Several others, including Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski, were collected in the crash, altering the race’s outcome.
Despite the frustration of being taken out in the closing laps, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. refrained from blaming Logano outright. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen the replay yet. But I feel like the holes were pretty small he was trying to fill,” the Hyak Motorsports #47 said post-race. Rather than calling out Logano for an aggressive move, Stenhouse acknowledged that they had been working together well up to that point. “I was hoping he would stick with me… I feel like I pretty much pushed him all the way around the racetrack for 10 to 12 laps, and we were really fast.”
Ricky Stenhouse on the Joey Logano contact that triggered the crash pic.twitter.com/Cz7HlC5veS
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 17, 2025
Stenhouse’s reaction was notably different from how most drivers respond after a late-race crash. While he admitted he still needed to review the footage, he suggested that Logano was simply trying to make a move in a tight space. “I feel like maybe he was trying to fill the gap and he and somebody else got together and hit me in the left rear,” he explained. Instead of escalating tensions, Stenhouse’s comments reflected an understanding of how aggressive plate racing works. Particularly in the final laps of a superspeedway event.
Logano, meanwhile, saw his race end in the garage after the incident, recording a disappointing DNF. He had earlier won Stage 1 and finished 8th in Stage 2 earning 21 points. But the late crash cost him any chance of contending for the win. Corey LaJoie, who had been working with Stenhouse throughout the race, finished 22nd with 20 points overall. As for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., he managed to salvage a 17th-place finish, walking away with 28 points despite the setback.
While the Daytona 500 didn’t go as planned for the drivers involved in the crash, Stenhouse’s response stood out. In a sport where post-race finger-pointing is common, he took a more composed approach. He recognized the risks that come with superspeedway racing. This is in stark contrast to his approach in 2024 after an incident with Kyle Busch ended his All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Stenhouse waited outside the hauler after the race and following a heated discussion with Busch, he swung for the fences and made contact with Busch’s face. However, it seems like he has learned to calm that rage inside him. Or maybe he is just scared of Joey Logano? The Team Penske driver did leave Busch bleeding in the face when the two got into a fight in 2017!
Whether Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s restraint was out of frustration or a genuine understanding of the circumstances, one thing was clear: he wasn’t going to let one crash define his outlook on the season ahead.
Moving on to Atlanta – The Ambetter Health 400 awaits
The NASCAR Cup Series now shifts focus to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Ambetter Health 400 on February 25. After a dramatic Daytona 500, drivers will be looking for redemption on the fast, superspeedway-style track. Joey Logano, who finished 28th at Atlanta, but won the 2024 playoff race there, will aim to bounce back. Similarly, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driving for Hyak Motorsports this year, hopes to build on his solid 17th-place result.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who got a sixth-place finish last year at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, will look to keep his momentum going on superspeedways. Our fresh Daytona 500 winner William Byron settled for 17th last year at Atlanta. Will he step up to defend his early-season dominance? Meanwhile, the defending winner of the Ambetter Health 400, Daniel Suarez, notched up a respectable 13th-place finish at Daytona amid the final lap chaos.
With pack racing and tire wear playing major roles at Atlanta, strategy will be key. Expect aggressive moves as drivers push for a win early in the season. Can Logano recover, or will Stenhouse continue his strong run at superspeedways? With Daytona in the rearview mirror, the battle for the 2025 Cup Series is just getting started.
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