Joey Logano hasn’t shied away from being that ruthless, competitive guy on the racetrack. He’s not shy to rattle fenders and ruffle feathers to get a win or a result he desires. Remember his battle with Matt Kenseth in 2015 at Charlotte? Logano, unable to pass Kenseth after multiple attempts, gave him a bump, which caused Kenseth to spin out and give Logano the race win. That edge, that defiant confidence, is part of what has defined Logano’s legacy for more than a decade.

But, off the track? Well, that’s where Logano is a different person altogether. Especially when he is in front of the camera facing the media. That Joey Logano is laid-back, self-aware, and even disarmingly humble. And in a world where athletes often polish themselves into PR-safe robots, Logano doesn’t mind being blunt about who he is and why his media image looks the way it does. And, in a recent podcast, he shared a seven-word philosophy that explains it all.

Joey Logano explains his media personality

When it comes to being in the spotlight in front of the media, Joey Logano follows a simple yet effective approach. In his own words, Logano explained on the Donut podcast, “A little humility is good. But being honest is always the best thing. And even if that might be controversial at times, if that’s what you believe, then that’s what it is.”

And Logano has lived by that motto, right from his NASCAR debut to becoming a three-time Cup champion. He has openly admitted multiple times that he doesn’t care much about the fan hate he receives. Rather, he is focused on his job – winning races, shaking up player standings, and winning championships at the end of the season.

That same blunt confidence shines whenever the conversation shifts to the playoff format. As you might be aware, Joey Logano is often the target of criticism, with fans insisting that Logano only advances to the playoffs and wins championships due to well-executed strategies. Moreover, there is a growing voice asking for a playoff format change from fans, drivers, and insiders alike for the same reasons.

However, has stood by his stance from Day 1. He doesn’t find the playoffs flawed. Instead, he criticizes the drivers for being unable to adapt to it. In a recent interview, he stated, “I’ve always been the person to say, ‘If you’re complaining about it, then just do better. If you scored a bunch of points during a regular season and you didn’t make it to the Championship 4, then shame on you. You had a head start, and you still couldn’t do it.”

He also went on to say, “I have such a different personality on track than I do off track. And so I kind of understand why, like I’m probably not the most liked guy. I could tell when I get introduced that I get booed, but I also got a lot of people that cheer for me. But I understand that it’s they’re booing the person that’s driving the car, not the person that’s out of the car.”

Whether you agree or not, the honesty from Joey Logano is unmistakable. Moreover, when it comes to brand association, the same honesty, the same no BS approach, is reflected. “You’ve got to find brands that match who you are, right?” Logano said. It’s why his long-term associations (Coca-Cola, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Shell Pennzoil) fit naturally into his public image.

However, the most striking example of this is his association with Hair Club. Logano has been open about undergoing hair treatment with the brand for his hair loss issue. Now, this is something that most athletes and other media personalities prefer to hide. But not Logano.

Logano’s unfiltered style stands out in a time when many athletes evaluate every word. Even if he might cause controversy and receive criticism, he will never be accused of being anything but himself. And that, ironically, makes his media image work.

The switch that flips

Now, for all the talk of his ‘dual’ personalities on and off the track, many fans wonder, how does Joey Logano do that? How is Logano a ruthless assassin when the green flag waves and one of the nicest people when the checkered flag drops? Recently, Logano revealed the secret. The answer, as it turns out, is pretty simple.

“It’s because I’m not competing against you. It’s a competition factor, right? If you had a deck of cards in front of you and we were playing cards, you probably wouldn’t like me anymore. It’s just, I’m going to change because then it becomes about winning and losing. As soon as that becomes an option, there’s only one thing I want to do, and that’s to win,” he said.

For Logano, this dual personality is what has helped him survive in NASCAR for all these years. He believes that in NASCAR, there is no room for passive passengers. On track, you either control the race or someone else controls you. And if that requires turning into a villain for 400 miles? So be it.

But, in his head, he is clear about where that version of himself belongs. That ruthless competitor on the track has no place at home. Logano refuses to let the on-track persona bleed into his personal life, especially when it comes to how his family sees him. At the end of it, Joey Logano isn’t two different people.

He’s one person just programmed with two different modes. There’s the kind human and then there’s the cutthroat racer. And Joey Logano exactly knows when and where each needs to show up.