Joey Logano started the Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway in 23rd place, but ended his day in the garage after a crash on lap 206 with John Hunter Nemechek.
Nemechek made contact with Logano and the No. 22 Team Penske car spun, collecting Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie, Derek Kraus and Zane Smith in the process. Logano received a few licks from the other vehicles, but managed to get out of his car and into the ambulance to be checked out.
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Joey Logano during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 9, 2024, in Avondale, Arizona. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Logano called Nemechek after he was released from the infield center. Nemechek said on his radio with his team that he felt Logano slow down and that he had no intention of hitting him.
“I didn't slow it down. Well, you have to lift when you take the turns,” he told FOX Sports. “You can't keep it completely open around Phoenix. Maybe you should take a look and realize you can't do that too.
“He hit me from behind. He has to be man enough to recognize it.”
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Joey Logano takes the turn during the Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway. (Joe Rondone/La República/USA Today Network)
Logan finished 34th in the race. He was one of four drivers who did not complete the race. LaJoie, Kraus and Austin Cindric were the others.
It has been a difficult start to the 2024 Cup season for the two-time champions.
34th at Phoenix was the third time this year he finished outside the top 25. He was 32nd at Daytona and 28th at Atlanta. He was trying to gain some momentum after finishing ninth in Las Vegas last weekend, but he couldn't avoid the accident.
Drivers battle for position in the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 10, 2024, in Avondale, Arizona. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
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Logano and the rest of the Cup head to Bristol. The spring race is again on cement after having been on dirt the last few seasons. He finished 34th in the season-ending Bristol race last year.
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