Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour presented by NASCAR on FOX - Victory Lap: Joey Logano Interview After Winning at Richmond

Episode Date: August 19, 2026

On this episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Mamba Smith talks with NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano as he breaks down his win at Richmond Raceway. Specifically, Logano goes behind the scenes of the race, they discuss his burnout, where he is in the championship hunt, and a look ahead to the rest of season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm up there and I'm looking. I'm like, uh-oh, no one's wearing any 22 guys. So I thought I thought I found a kid wearing a cowboy shirt. I'm like, all right, that's pretty good. I'll get it here. But I was like, nobody? Loudon is not like that. Loudon, I and Dale Jr.

California's Kevin Harvick does it. What's going on, clothes Mamba Smith, in the hot seat for this week's Kevin Harvick Happy Hour Victory Lab. And you guys already know the winner. The dog, not Joey, it's Joe. Lugano. What's going on, my man? Joe. What's up? I'm good, man. Not as good as you, though. I mean, a couple of ways, when last time I had you on the show, you know, we were trying to figure it out. We didn't

know where we were, really. And since then, you've had two wins. What is going on over at Team Penske? We must have figured it out eventually, which is finally. Yeah, Carr was, Gary really the last month and a half has been really solid. You know, I think of, you know, Chicago's kind of where it seemed like it started to turn around some. And then, you know, Indy was great. Obviously, Wilkesboro was awesome.

You know, Iowa was pretty good as well. Like, we've had chances to win the last month and a half straight, you know? So, you know, we're in a form we need to be. And, you know, we're behind the eight ball. We're starting to catch up from a point standpoint, right? As we start to run this while we're kind of scratching Claude for you back in at the top 10 quickly and got a couple more to get a little closer. I mean, when you went to North Wilkesboro, you had one of your kids was with you,

put them in the car. Now the kids are starting to see what dad's all about. Has the energy back home changed? Well, it's the first time we've won, all of us were there, the new extended family, right? That guys were we've grown so much here. You know, the kids were fostering at the moment. They haven't, you know, I think they just thought I got beat all the time. I really thought a good part.

And I'm like, you know, I used to win. I swear. Like, I was good. And now at least I'm living up to that. So that's good. That's so awesome. We talked about it for a second. You asked about the grade that we gave him for the burnout.

Kevin has put you in the top three for the season. The burnout was good on track, but the one into victory lane. I mean, that was just perfect. I mean, I feel like that's got to be bonus style points. You know, once I got in there, I was like, screw it. The tires are still up. My theory is you don't stop a burnout until something breaks. That's my theory.

Usually it's the tires. And it worked out to where it was apparently the flooring system that they had in Victor Lane is what broke it. Well, I got to ask you, we were talking about it. if you were going to get in trouble or not for that one. Did you get in trouble for the burnout in Victoria Lane? Or is it all copesthetic? I think I'm good.

I, hey, listen, they ask us some stuff and stand out and be better than everyone, right? You got to try something different. I did it. You know, you can't get it. But I was laughing at my wife,

this morning we were working out. My wife, she's always a smart aleck. And she goes, you know, last time he did a burnout that wasn't on the racetrack was at Richmond, and you got a fine 50 grand. That was different.

Not the same. That's so far. Brittany has some of the best one-liners. She is on it. She is on it. All right. So we're talking about the momentum shift. You mentioned Chicago when you felt like that was kind of where it kind of got it started.

If you watch social, they're all like, well, there's no more short tracks. So we don't have to worry about the 22 anymore. But what about Chicago land? Did you feel like you guys found? I just think we finally got something that made sense. And it's so hard today to get to that point because you don't have the practice. You don't have testing. You don't get the sling springs out.

You're just working on balance stuff. And so we finally tried some things that actually made sense and it works. It's like, okay. And then it showed up again at Indy. It's like, all right, things are starting to add up. We're not just lost like I felt like we were before. So I think all that's kind of starting to add up makes sense. When you think about that and you look at the schedule,

obviously we got New Hampshire coming up. We got Daytona. But you kind of get into it. And it's like, man, we're already good at like four or five of these races. If we can just kind of stay in the mix at these mile and a halfs and close the gap a little bit, do you feel great about your chances? I feel great about it right now. Listen, every one of our championships didn't have a great regular season.

So for us, this is normal. No, I feel just like I have every other time we've won one of these things. So I feel solid going into it. Our team feels really good. Obviously, the momentum's built up at the right time. Yeah, I mean, there's some challenges and things like that. But, you know, I can't say we have more of a motivated team than we do right now ever. You know, this team is wanting to go out there and prove to everyone that we can win on any format.

And we can make a comeback of all comebacks if we can keep this role going throughout the chase and be there in Miami at the end. And that's the goal. you've gone from 20th and points to ninth I think there's a real opportunity because six and seventh is tied I think at like two something back 270 something back there's a real opportunity for you to get there

what do you think it's going to take to get there just doing what you guys are doing or is there something more that you're looking for at least keep grabbing these stage points I mean that to me is the difference maker you know if you don't get stage points to finish 10th your 20-ish points, 25 points throughout the day.

That's all you get. I think that just enough to maintain, you might lose a spot or two. But if you can go out there and score stage points and, you know, get a minimum of 35 points, average over the next two races, you're going to get yourself pretty close to that spot. You know, and then when I look at Loudoun, I feel like that's the place that we can score stage points and finish in the top five. I feel, you know, confident that we have a team that can do that. Daytona, I think that's the question mark for everybody right now.

Nobody knows what they're going to have when they get there. We got new rules package. We don't even have practice. So even ask you have to qualify how it's going to be. We're not going to know. So that's definitely the one that's up in the air. So we can control Loudoun right now. We'll go try to do that.

And then we'll see where we're at and try to get some more. You guys said, I think you can win this thing if you're inside the top 10, and make up that difference. So if we can just keep doing what we're doing, we can make it happen. A conversation that happens a lot is the stage point, stage break, stage this conversation. Where are you on it?

Do you like having the stage breaks or the stage points? Because in my brain, you kind of just mentioned it. If you're having a bad day and can salvage it based off your points, are you having a good day and then something out of your control happens, but you get stage points at least it evens out a little bit. Yeah, what's wrong with stages? We added them for a reason. I laugh.

So this sport, I swear. I swear. You know, like, we have changed it for a reason. And everyone was like, this is great. It's awesome. And I agree. It's awesome. And then all of a sudden, like, oh, we don't like things.

What happened? Like, we didn't see the way it was before. Now we're going to complain about the stages. Like, come on, man. Like, just, just everyone would be happy with what we got. We got the best form of motorsports going right now. It is very entertaining all the way through. We just got to learn to actually love it.

And I do. I know that. And I feel like the majority of our fans do. But golly, we switch back and forth. We make a full circle all the time as a sport. It is very entertaining to me because I think some people forget what happened. And we don't talk about the past so much, so you end up forgetting whatever we saw before, you know.

But one thing people haven't forgot, Joey Lugano is still a villain on the racetrack. You get the fans so riled up when you have success. I find that so entertaining because you're such a nice guy off the racetrack. Now, if I raced against you, I probably would be, you know, you're a dog. You're not the easiest guy to pass, but I think it's so great how you keep the fans engaged and riled up. I mean, it's just who I am, right? I'm kind of an extreme type person.

I'm going to go all the way on one Saturday other. And when I'm out of the car, it's just me, right? Like, we're going to have fun. We're going to joke around. I'm going to be honest with you with at least my opinions on things. And if you don't like it, so be it. Right. And on the racetrack, it's kind of the same way.

But the competitiveness in me is just there. I can't help that. You can't convince me that's a bad thing either. There's a lot of very competitive people out there that are trying to, you know, do big things in their life. And that shouldn't be something that people talk negative upon. So I like it. It's like I said, you get what you get with me.

So it's worked up to this point. I love the, the motto your team has taken on. What is the motto? It's for, what is it? For the haters. For the haters. I love it.

Can you take us in a little bit into the team's mind? since you guys have been on this run, how the energy is shifted? Is everyone walking with their chest out a little bit more? Like, what's the energy like at Team Penske right now? Yeah, I mean, yes and no. You know, our team's pretty even keeled most of the time. There's there's not much roller coaster type of emotions that we ride. So I'd say, you know, yeah, I mean, definitely there's confidence and momentum going our direction. But our head's still down. said it after the race. Like, we got to keep grinding. Like, this isn't enough, right? Like, have we come back from pretty far behind? Sure. Are we all the way there? Nope. Right? And we're

not going to say we're all the way there until we place the big trophy at the end of the year. Like, that's, that's forever the goal. And we're not going to go out there with our chest pumped up until that happens. And so, you know, we just got to keep our heads down, keep grinding, and keep, you know, we're not the fastest car everywhere yet, right? Like, we're really good on tracks, right? Like, we, we've definitely shown that over the last couple of them. But we need to keep grinding the way and get, you know, those mile in the house. Yeah, like we're saying Chicago and Indy was good. And it was. But we're not the dominant car there yet, right? We're from 20th to top five car, which is a big game. But until you're the best in everything, you got to keep

working. Well, we've been talking about what's been going on throughout the season. Let's kind shift to looking forward a little bit. New Hampshire's coming up. It means a lot to me. I know it means a lot to you. A couple of New England guys. When you go home to that area, does it feel like home still?

Oh, it's so much better. I love it. Let me tell you why it's better. This happened to me after the race. You go up there, you start finishing, yeah, you get the cracker flag. And, you know, I was going to give it to a little kid wearing a 22 shirt. And I'm like, all right.

And I'm up there and I'm looking. And I'm like, uh-oh, no one's wearing any 22 stuff. And I went up and down, like, I walked down the pit wall there. And I watched back and I was like, huh. And I was like, well, I can't just take it with me because I'm really going to look like a jerk. So I'm like, I found a kid wearing a Kyle Bush shirt. And I'm like, all right, that's pretty good. I'll give it to you.

But I was like, nobody? Loudon is not like that. Loudon, I am Dale Jr. in New Hampshire. I am like the favorite. I'm one of them, right? That's home for me. So it's my one weekend a year. I get to take in all the loving. It's going to be. I'm excited. I think me and you, some of your teammates, I think we have a little thing going on Saturday night, a little show for them in the fan zone. So that's going to be great. When you think about going home and just what the area means to you, I know you've talked about you cut your teeth

there at the quarter minute midget track. Do you get any time? Do you ever get a any time there? Do you spend extra time with the fans? Like, what are you doing when you get there? Yeah, I like to go up there early. Like, we're going to leave and go up there early as a family and just hang around a little bit, you know, just visit home for a minute, you know, family, friends that are up that way. And then, you know, just, yeah, we do more things. I will say it's usually a busier weekend, you know, because you're trying to go do things like you said. Are you trying to see the fans more? You're trying to take advantage of being up there. but truly I just enjoy it, right, just being up that area,

especially this time of year. It's cooler out. The sun's up really long. The food up there is incredible, right? Like, you know how it is. Like, it just feels like, oh, this is right, you know? You talk, you've, one of your, one of my favorite things that you say a lot is that pressure is a privilege.

You already have the pressure of driving for one of the most iconic owners in all of motorsports. What is the pressure like not only now that you're in the chase, not locked in yet, but you're in a good spot. What is that pressure like? Has it ramped up now that you feel like you have a shot at a championship? Or is it different? You know what I mean?

The difference between trying to make the chase versus having championship aspirations. Well, I can tell you right now, the first text I got from Roger as soon as the race was over is like, because their goal was to get the 10th in points over the next, you know, a couple of all those three races going into Richmond. And he said, all right, in the top 10, now go to sixth, right? That was the first. That was the time from Roger. I'm like, got it.

Okay, I'm on it, sir. Let's keep going. So it's always out the windshield. You know, it's just what's next? You know, what's the next biggest thing we can achieve? And it's nice to get to that goal. And nothing guarantees us to being in the top ten points when we get to Daytona or out of Daytona. But, you know, we still got to be looking ahead and being on attack mode like we've been in the last few weeks and moving forward.

When that's so great that text from Roger. And I just, I was just thinking, like when you have somebody like that, an owner like that, that's been doing it for so long and he's still motivated not only to be competitive but to be the best that just has to like inject so much energy into your program absolutely yeah i mean he's the i said after the meeting you're out in post race media stuff like team penske's the best place to drive for hands down i don't know where else you'd want to go what you'd want to do you're with a true winner right i said in the media center you can't throw like an eagle when you're working with a bunch of turkeys and it's so true.

And in this case, right, when you think of the leaders at team Penske and you also just look at Roger and what he's done outside of motor sports, the guy just wins, right? Yeah. And if no matter what position you're looking to do, you want to surround yourself with winners. And if you're, you know, jumping on the coattails of Roger Penske, you're probably going to win, right? Like, we're not going to last long. It's one or the other, right?

You're going to win or get it. You're not going to fit in here. and what's what I want. That's what I want. And I think there's a lot of other people within the companies, all of them, that feel the same way. Absolutely.

Definitely a group of winners. Kevin wanted me to ask you because, you know, Alex Bowman is retiring, right? And he's, you know, he always wanted to retire at 35, he said,

are in that area. And so he's going to end up doing that next year. Kevin was like, do you think this is going to be the norm? He was asking me this. said, no. He's like, well, do you think Joey's going to go for another 10 years? I said, what do you want him to be done right now? Like, what do you want him to retire after three? So how long do we can we expect Joey Lugano to be, being the villain on the racetrack?

Yeah, it's just such a hard question to answer. If I'm being honest with you. I don't, I don't know. You know, and the, the answer that I've always gone with before, and I still hold true to this, as soon as I am a drag on the race team, I'm out. Right? Like my goal is to make the 22 car team Penske as a whole. I want to add something and bring something to the table for them, right? Whether that's driving the car or doing something else, my job is to add to the team. And if I'm not the best driver they can put in that car, then I shouldn't be driving that car. Right. I've always said that. So as soon as I feel like I am losing it and I can't win anymore, I will be the first to raise my hand and say,

say get somebody better. Now, when that is, I don't know, right? And there's other factors to the decision, you know, for everybody, your health is always going to be a factor of how you feel, physically, mentally. And then, yeah, I got five kids at home. That's another piece that matters. One, I may have to raise the feet. But that's one part of it. But also, you know, I heard it the other day, right? It's spell love T-I-M-E. Right. And that is so true. So, you know, managing your time and spending that time, that precious time, those few years you have with your children before, you don't see them as often and they grow up. Those days, those years never come back. So managing all that is a challenge. And it factors into the decision. Did you, have you had time to look at your career at all? Like, I know you're in it. And especially in season, it's hard to, like, look at what you've done, right? But you just had your 39th win. in the NASCAR Cup series.

You have three championships. You're starting to get into a very rare air on both championships and wins. Have you had any time at all to, like, think about what you've accomplished so far? A little bit, but I don't let myself do it. I don't, it's cool to hear 39, like, about 40s really close. That's awesome, right? Like tying Rusty as, you know, the Team Penske Cup win record. You know, that's like, I take a lot of pride in that one.

Yeah, so I guess like in some instances, yeah, I think it's really cool. But I just say, that's how it goes. I just go, that's pretty cool. Let's keep going, right? Like, I'm not someday in my rocking chair, I'll take time to look in the mirror and reflect. But right now it's in the windshield and keep going. And so it's just, I don't know, an addiction to growth, I guess is what it is. You're just trying to keep doing more.

Yeah, doing more. Do you have a goal? Do you have a numbers? Is there a number in your mind? Like, I want to get to here. Or like, because I feel like for you, you just kind of said it, it's like just getting more. But is there anything that you're like, you know, another Daytona 500 championship would change something for me. Is there anything like that that you have?

No. And I think what it is is no, no amount of wins is going to change my life at this point. Because there's bigger things in my life. winning races. I have family. That's number one to me, not racing. And so that kind of changes your perspective a little bit. But the goal is, to me, also very simple.

Like, if you win the next race, the rest of those numbers will carry themselves. But I don't need to hit 50 wins or 60 wins to say my career was whole. Like, I just don't look at it that way. I look at it is, what's the next race? Loudon, okay, let's go win that one. You know, like just that simple. If you take care of tomorrow, years down the road will take care of themselves. Man, Joey, you, we've been friends for a good while.

I think we were talking about off camera. I think it was like 2012. We met at like Victory Lane Carding with, yeah, with McGraths and LaJoy. Yeah, dude, it's been a while. And I'll tell you all this. This is how I met Joy, this is my introduction to Joy Lagano. because we're all kids at this point, and we're leaving the go-car track, and he has one of these, like, SS, like, trucks, and we're getting on to the on-ramp.

And I've never seen this, I've from Vermont. I've never seen this thing before. So he just, he gasses up. And it's a little bit, just a little wheel spin, a little show for the folks. And I'm like, okay, no, yeah, Jerry Laganon can do that. Really got to do that. You're still having fun with your cars, though, man. What kind of, what's going on in the car collection?

Ah, man, I just like driving cool cars. nothing's changed. And you know what's the here's the best thing I've done is I bought in 100sville Ford. Joey Lagano's 100sville for now. And now I have unlimited amounts of cars. I get to see all the news

and latest and greatest sports before everybody else. Right? I get to like, I don't know, like I go like man, I want to drive one of those cool ones. You know, I can just drive that home. You know, that's pretty sick. So that's awesome. That's awesome. Everyone thought Joey Lagano was

doing it for the business. Nah, he's just doing it for the kid that he is to drive cool cars. I love it. All right, champ. Well, I appreciate it. I know you got stuff to do. Good luck this weekend. Looking forward to seeing you up in New England.

We're going to have some fun, brother. All right, man. I appreciate it. Thank you.