A NASCAR driver getting car sick seems like an oxymoron. Sure, it doesn't quite roll of the tongue like "jumbo shrimp" or "virtual reality," but it does sound more like a throwaway turn of phrase than an actual occurrence. But, Joey Logano is here to prove that even though professional racers are used to driving in circles at speeds pushing 200 MPH for several days a week for a good chunk of the year, they still can get squeamish while riding in a car. At least, when someone else is behind the wheel.
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During an appearance on Jeff Gluck's 12 Questions podcast for The Athletic, Logano opened up about why you will never catch him riding shotgun or in the backseat of a street car.
"I don't, I don't ride, I drive," Logano said. "I drive everywhere. I hate riding in the passenger seat. I get car sick, for one, and I hate that. And this sounds so, but no one ever drives as good as me! There are only one or two people I am OK riding with, but 99% of the time, I drive, no matter what, all the time."
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
So, just how bad is the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion's car sickness? Well, it's a lot more than slight discomfort. Apparently, it's so bad that even when he's out of town and doing media appearances, the Team Penske driver will actually turn down any offered car services and go and rent a car himself. It doesn't matter if the driver is a professional, or if they promise to maintain a consistent speed and avoid any major speed bumps. Logano just doesn't like to take any chances when it comes to that.
"I get really sick," Logano said. "And then it's like you're down for like an hour, maybe longer."
Imagine that. Despite their seemingly superhuman feats of racing prowess out on the track, NASCAR drivers are humans just like the rest of us.
