Dale Earnhardt Jr. set off a firestorm among NASCAR fans this week after defending Joey Logano over a controversial restart penalty at Phoenix Raceway. The Hall of Famer called the ruling “nitpicky” on his “Dale Jr. Download” podcast, arguing that officials overstepped by penalizing Logano for dipping below the yellow line on a Lap 14 restart.
Logano, who had taken the lead from William Byron early, was forced to surrender the spot and serve a pass-through penalty, dropping him to the back of the field. He ultimately finished 13th, but the decision ignited heated debates over NASCAR’s consistency in enforcing restart rules.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Defends Joey Logano Amid Penalty Controversy
Earnhardt questioned NASCAR’s urgency in penalizing what he saw as a minor infraction. “I didn’t think that Joey was trying to gain an advantage there. I don’t think he was doing anything to block the car behind him. I just think that he misjudged it,” he said.
“This was an interesting one for me. … Sometimes NASCAR doesn’t call it. Sometimes they do call it. I do not remember the last time that they’ve called it on the front, you know — the leader, particularly at Phoenix. So that was pretty interesting.”
The two-time Daytona 500 winner pointed to inconsistent officiating, noting that similar moves at Phoenix often go unpenalized. Co-host TJ Majors pushed back, arguing Logano gained a tactical edge by cutting the dogleg early. But Earnhardt stood firm:
“I felt like considering, the circumstances that it was a bit nitpicky based off of how hit and miss it’s been on calling those infractions at that particular racetrack.”
My favorite thing about this discourse is people like Jr spent all last week saying nascar was being too inconsistent and it needed to be black and white, but when Joey breaks a written rule they say “oh that’s nitpicking, it was a negligible thing” https://t.co/CLvOXpGInY
— Zoniax (@Zoniax73) March 12, 2025
Fans flooded social media, with many accusing Earnhardt of bias. “Jr has had some insane opinions lately, it’s a black and white call, was he over the line? Yes? Then it’s a penalty no question,” one user tweeted.
Others called out what they saw as hypocrisy. “Jr spent all last week saying nascar was being too inconsistent and it needed to be black and white, but when Joey breaks a written rule they say ‘oh that’s nitpicking,’” another fan wrote.
I agree that sometimes you have to draw the line sometimes , because you are gonna keep pushing until you find that line. It was nitpicky, but necessary.
— D3wayne (@d3wayne) March 12, 2025
However, some sided with Earnhardt, arguing that context matters. “Sometimes you have to draw the line. It was nitpicky, but necessary,” countered a supporter.
NASCAR Stands Firm as Debate Rages
NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran defended the penalty, citing clear pre-race guidelines. “You must establish the lane a line above the inside painted line, and you cannot drop down until you cross the start-finish line,” Moran said on SiriusXM. “It’s a clear black and white penalty. There’s not a lot of gray or judgment in that call.” He stressed the call was fair, leaving no room for discretion.
Logano’s penalty forced him to burn an early set of option tires, crippling his comeback. He rallied from 37th to 13th but called the ruling “ridiculous” post-race. The 2022 Cup champion’s frustration resonated with fans demanding consistency. “NASCAR finding new ways to penalize Logano cause if they don’t then he just wins anything,” a comment read.
NASCAR finding new ways to penalize Logano cause if they don't then he just wins anything and doesn't provide enough entertainment I guess https://t.co/GGleVCY3sN
— Bryan Aguiar (@TheBryanAguiar) March 9, 2025
As debates rage, one thing is clear: Phoenix’s penalty drama highlights the fine line between fair enforcement and overreach. For Earnhardt, it’s a call for nuance. For NASCAR, it’s a reminder that every inch matters.