“I had to wait in order to hire him because Joe Gibbs said, ‘Look, I’m going to maybe get him a Cup ride, will you wait a week?’” Recalled Roger Penske about hiring Joey Logano. Early in his career, Logano was a whiz kid at Joe Gibbs Racing, nicknamed “Sliced Bread” for his promise to be the next big thing. But even all the hype could not make his stint there work. Logano later cited the absence of sponsorship and mixed results that killed the momentum for him. By 2012, his NASCAR future was in doubt, with question marks beginning to form about whether he would ever meet the early hype.
Logano’s 37th Cup Series win at Texas Motor Speedway was a tribute to his grit, coming from a career-low 27th starting spot—the lowest he has ever come back from to win a Cup race—to capture the checkered flag. This victory put him tied with NASCAR great Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time victory list. But above the stats, this victory was an opportunity for Logano to look back on a friendship and a turning point in his career that redirected the course of his life. His path to this victory was anything but linear. At its center is a reserved champion whose faith in Logano altered everything.
Joey Logano is grateful for Brad Keselowski’s role early in his career
Team Penske was the catalyst that took Logano to become a two-time Cup Series champion (2018, 2022) and one of the most dependable winners in NASCAR. Since becoming a part of Penske in 2013, Logano has gained 37 victories, including pressure-cooker wins like the chaotic Texas race that marked this recent milestone. But it’s where he came from, the tale of how he got to Penske, that gives this win the emotional depth that it does. Roger Penske, the team’s legendary owner, disclosed the driving force for the move: Brad Keselowski. On an episode of the Happy Hour podcast with Kevin Harvick, Penske recalled, “Brad Keselowski was the one that came to me and said, ‘Look, we should get Logano to run with us.’. At the time, Keselowski was a rising star at Penske, fresh off his 2012 championship, and his endorsement carried weight. His belief in Logano, when others saw only risk, was a game-changer.
In victory lane at Texas, Logano’s emotions spilled over as he honored his friend and former teammate. “He was the one to tell Roger you need to get Joey to drive and you know I owe a lot to him for saying that so yeah that’s always neat and obviously Bobby Isaac is a legend in our sport so yeah it’s neat to keep climbing up through the record books I don’t look at it that often it’s cool to hear it so thanks for telling me but I feel like I still got a ways to go so I don’t look at it a whole bunch but racking up stats are cool you know you don’t know you know when your last win is or you know those type of things but yes need to rack them up I always say it’s more important things than just racking wins up you got to do something with them afterwards and make sure you make an impact in people’s lives the best way you can but the wins definitely help do that.” This 37th win, surpassing Keselowski’s tally, felt like a shared milestone for Logano.
“I owe Brad a lot”
Race winner @joeylogano on breaking a tie with former @Team_Penske teammate @keselowski after picking up his 37th career victory.
Logano credits Keselowski with helping him land the job to drive for Penske and considers him a great friend. pic.twitter.com/RErjOYH2p6
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) May 5, 2025
The two have been linked throughout their careers, not just as competitors but as peers who pushed each other to grow. Keselowski’s role in Logano’s Penske deal is a story Logano never forgets. Their bond is a rare gem in the high-stakes world of NASCAR. Both entered the Cup Series around the same time—Logano in 2008, Keselowski in 2009—and their careers have been intertwined ever since. They worked together at Penske between 2013 and 2021, in the same garage while Logano’s career flourished and Keselowski won his title year. Their relationship withstood even the relocation of Keselowski to RFK Racing as a driver-owner.
“Yeah, it’s really cool. I respect Brad as a driver a lot, even more so as a person, more than anything. I consider him a great friend of mine. I don’t think as many people I trust as much as I do in Brad. It’s cool that we go out there and race with each other still, and we’re able to separate what we do on the racetrack and what our families are like. It’s neat to be racing against him for my whole career. We came in at the same time. I always say he was a big part of getting me here to Team Penske. They race fiercely on the track—sometimes clashing, as seen in past incidents like Keselowski’s crash in a 2021 race—but off the track, they maintain a deep trust. But, you know what’s interesting? Team Penske won at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2009 with Brad Keselowski joining in. And it was not Bad Brad, but a Busch.
The elder of the Busch brothers, Kurt Busch, won the 2009 Dickies 500 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. As a result, he picked up a $1 million bonus for a lucky fan and a $10,000 bonus for Operation Homefront! Imagine being that fan! You know, Joey Logano was also a part of the race, finishing 19th. And Keselowski, Busch’s teammate, finished 35th. But Kurt Busch was at the peak of his happiness and said, “It’s unbelievable here tonight. I’m proud of our team and everybody pulling together hard. Racing my little brother head-to-head for the win is bittersweet.” Busch was battling his younger ‘Rowdy’ brother for his 20th win.
In Kurt’s own words, he was rooting for his brother. “I was rooting for him [Kyle Busch], but at the same time, we wanted to put our Miller Lite Dodge in Victory Lane. We raced hard. It was cat and mouse on those restarts,” he said. But wait, if it was so close, how did Kurt Busch win? Well, it was the hidden power every driver has, called Crew Chief! “Then it came down to the crew chief, Pat (Tryson), putting in the right calls and getting us the fuel mileage to bring it home.” Phenomenal! However, now Logano is not winning races anymore; He is filling the NASCAR history books!
Tying Bobby Isaac, a NASCAR Hall of Famer with 37 wins and a 1970 Grand National championship, added historical weight to the moment. Isaac’s legacy as a dominant driver in the 1960s and 70s makes the comparison humbling for Logano. Yet, true to his nature, Logano doesn’t dwell on the stats. His focus lies beyond the numbers—on using his platform to make a difference. Logano’s humility and perspective shine through in moments like this. He knows wins are fleeting, and he’s driven by a deeper purpose.
But this victory, his 37th, was a chance to pause and reflect on the journey. It was a tribute to the struggles at Joe Gibbs Racing, the second chance at Penske, and the friend who saw his potential when others didn’t. As Logano climbs higher in NASCAR’s history books, he carries Keselowski’s quiet advocacy with him, a reminder that success is built not just on talent, but on the people who believe in you.
Brad Keselowski’s disaster day out at Texas
Brad Keselowski’s day at Texas Motor Speedway was gut-wrenching. The NASCAR Cup Series race was a demolition derby, and Keselowski, a 2012 champion, got chewed up by the chaos. His No. 6 RFK Racing Ford was flying early, even leading laps, showing the kind of speed that had fans buzzing. But then, a multi-car wreck in the race’s middle stages flipped his day upside down.
“I was trying too hard and busted my butt. Looked pretty dumb,” Keselowski said to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. Keselowski didn’t hold back on why Texas was a nightmare. “It’s just the cars are right on the bump-stops, and you’re driving the hell out of them. When you step over, you step over, and that’s what I did,” Keselowski said.
The numbers say it all: several cautions, wrecks, and drivers such as Keselowski and Bubba Wallace caught up in the wreck-fest. Logano managed to avoid the destruction to claim victory, but for Keselowski, it was back to the garage with a very long walk. Already looking ahead to the next race is vintage Brad—hard as steel, even when Texas shatters your heart. Supporters and Logano are wishing him well to come back stronger.
The post Joey Logano Pays Homage to His Silent NASCAR Advocate as He Climbs Higher in the History Books appeared first on EssentiallySports.