Logano Recalls Terrifying Dover Flip
Flashback to ’09: Rookie’s Career Defined by Stewart Contact
A harrowing eight-barrel roll at Dover in 2009 left a young Joey Logano shaken but intact, a moment he still reflects on with dread. At just 19, Logano, then a prized rookie with Joe Gibbs Racing, experienced one of NASCAR’s most dramatic crashes, initiated by a bump from his predecessor, Tony Stewart.
A Rookie’s Nightmare at the Monster Mile
The 2009 AAA 400 at Dover saw Logano, piloting the famed No. 20 Toyota, start 11th. Stewart, in his inaugural season with Stewart-Haas Racing, began 22nd. The incident unfolded on lap 31 when Logano slowed to avoid Bobby Labonte, creating a tight pack on the backstretch. Stewart, following closely, made contact with Logano‘s rear quarter panel, sending the rookie spinning onto the infield grass.
The car’s rebound onto the banked track led to a second collision with Reed Sorenson‘s No. 43. This impact launched Logano‘s machine airborne, initiating a terrifying sequence of tumbles down the 24-degree banking.
The violent crash prompted a red flag for cleanup. Even Stewart‘s car sustained damage, and he later expressed remorse for the incident.
“I wish I had saw that coming. I don’t know how to say sorry enough to Joey. I don’t know what happened. He just had to check up, and I didn’t see it coming.”
—Tony Stewart
Logano himself admitted to being deeply unsettled by the experience.
“It just scared the heck out of me. I haven’t seen a replay yet. I’m not sure I want to see a replay. It started rolling and I was in there like, ‘Damn, please make this thing stop.’”
—Joey Logano
He attributed his survival to the enhanced safety features of the Car of Tomorrow. Miraculously, Logano, along with drivers Reed Sorenson, Martin Truex Jr., and Robby Gordon, escaped serious injury, despite their cars being involved in the melee.
Lingering Rivalry: From Water Bottles to Words
Logano‘s early admiration for Stewart soured after a perceived snub in his youth, planting seeds for future animosity.
“Tony just walked right by us. I yelled, ‘Hey Tony, here, sign my hat.’ He didn’t even look at me, just b-lined right. Sc— this guy, that was my reaction. I don’t like this guy; that was my reaction. So I took all my stuff and I threw it in the garbage when I got home.”
—Joey Logano
A more publicized confrontation occurred during the 2013 Auto Club 400 at Fontana. Angered by Logano‘s defensive blocking on a late restart, Stewart confronted him on pit road, delivering a shove. In response, Logano tossed a water bottle, leading to a brief skirmish that required intervention from pit crews.
Stewart publicly criticized Logano after the incident.
“He’s nothing but a little rich kid… it’s time he learns a lesson.”
—Tony Stewart
Logano defended his actions, stating, “I had to throw the block… that was a race for the lead.”
This rivalry marked a turning point for Logano, influencing his aggressive racing style. Despite the controversies, Logano has since accumulated three championships, a notable achievement in NASCAR.
In 2023, Joey Logano secured his second Cup Series championship, solidifying his place among NASCAR’s elite drivers, a testament to his evolution since that daunting 2009 crash. (Source: NASCAR)
