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NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano recently delved into the difference between next-gen cars and the Xfinity machinery and conceded that he is jealous of the Xfinity drivers.
The #12 Team Penske driver has become a permanent fixture in the Xfinity broadcast booth this season, as a guest analyst. During his time in the booth at Texas Motor Speedway, he observed that the Xfinity drivers were off the gas pedal for longer periods, unlike the Cup drivers.
Logano asserted that Cup Series drivers in the next-gen car maintain consistent throttle input, rolling off the turns with minimal time off the gas pedal. However, upon listening to onboard footage for Xfinity cars, he was blown away by the extended off-throttle periods.
He recently opined on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio:
"Their cars drive so different, every time we go to their in-car camera it always blows my mind to hear how much they're off the gas. They go in the corner - baaah [car going off throttle] - and we are like barely lifting... It's so different."
"Every time I hear them out of the gas, I get jealous immediately. I'm like 'Oh man, you hear how much they're off the gas.' That sounds awesome. It's like the old days," he added.
Joey Logano added that the previous generation of the Cup cars were similar to present-day Xfinity cars, requiring drivers to lift off the throttle significantly earlier before entering the turns at Texas Motor Speedway.
Logano also suggested that being off the throttle is a "foreign" feeling for Cup drivers since the introduction of the next-gen car in 2022:
"We used to lift way early at Texas in the past.. you had to lift really early, need to tip into the gas and work your throttle and all that like the Xfinity cars have now. It's so funny, it's only been three years since the next-gen car came out and it feels so foreign now. Just hearing it feels foreign now..."
Joey Logano elaborates on bad racing at Texas Motor Speedway
In recent years, Texas Motor Speedway has garnered criticism from both fans and drivers for promoting single-groove racing, resulting in limited passing opportunities.
Joey Logano elaborated that the PJ1 resin, which was applied to the track surface years ago, hasn't eroded and prevents drivers from exploring the higher racing line, ultimately impacting the quality of racing.
The two-time Cup champion said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio:
"The resin PJ one stuff that they sprayed down years ago, races ago, is still on the racetrack. I don't know if it collects dust on top of it. Like it's still sticky, you know, you can feel it. It's sticky."
"I wish there was a way to take that stuff off. I don't know how to do that, but I think the racing would be better if you didn't have that cr*p up there," he added.
