Joey Logano, a figure who divides opinion among NASCAR enthusiasts, emphasizes the importance of adopting a “good loser philosophy” to thrive in the sport. With losing far more common than winning in NASCAR, Logano believes that accepting defeat and moving forward is crucial to staying competitive.
Often met with vocal opposition or strong support, Logano has maintained composure despite on-track frustrations. After every race, whether victorious or not, he resets his mindset to keep pushing ahead. He shared his thoughts on The REKAP podcast with David Kaplan and Ryan McGuffey, explaining the harsh realities of racing.
You put so much effort into winning and being successful. Unfortunately for us, you don’t win every race. I mean if you could win five or six of them a year, that’s a fantastic season and a fantastic record, but that also means you lost 30 times that year. That’s a lot of hits.
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
Logano highlighted that NASCAR’s odds of winning are sharply stacked against drivers compared to other sports.
“It’s not like other sports where it’s 50-50. It’s a one in 36 chance if you’re going to win this thing,”
he said. This reality means drivers frequently face the sting of defeat, which tests their mental strength.
You have to become a good loser… To me, the definition of a good loser is somebody that can accept it, take what they figured out, take what you can learn from it, and then move on quickly — that short memory.
—Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
Last season offered an example of Logano’s resilience, as he earned his third Cup Series championship despite criticism over his average finish of 17.11. Many fans questioned his consistency and advocated for changes in the playoff system, yet Logano remained unfazed. He continued to compete with determination, regardless of the scrutiny he faced.
This season has already demonstrated his ability to rebound from setbacks. Following a disqualification at Talladega for spoiler violations, which cost him a runner-up finish, Logano swiftly recovered to secure a playoff spot by winning at Texas. His response underscored his steadfast approach to challenges, refusing to let obstacles derail his focus.
Similar Mental Approach Shared by Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson, who recently dominated the Kansas race by leading 221 laps and claiming his third win of the season, employs a comparable mindset to handle disappointments. He acknowledges the importance of quickly moving past both victories and defeats to maintain performance.
I have a short memory. My memory has faded…
Larson explained to reporters.
I do think it’s because I race a lot, I’m guessing. I would say that that’s a big part of me being able to move on quickly from things, whether it’s a good race or a bad race or a wreck or good result, bad result, whatever.
—Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
However, Larson also cautioned that even the toughest competitors have limits. When setbacks accumulate, they can momentarily undermine confidence, reminding that mental endurance must be continuously nurtured in this demanding sport.
Both Logano and Larson’s shared philosophy of embracing losses as learning experiences reflects a vital survival mechanism within NASCAR’s fiercely competitive environment. Their ability to maintain composure and adapt quickly after disappointments may prove decisive in their ongoing careers and influence how future drivers approach the mental game of racing.