Are NASCAR Drivers Athletes? Joey Logano Thinks That Is An ‘Uneducated Question’

It’s a question as old as motorsports: Are race car drivers athletes?

For some reason, one of the reporters covering the NASCAR weekend at Phoenix Race decided to ask defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano if he thinks NASCAR drivers get enough credit for being athletes, and he definitely had thoughts.

“The fact that they even ask us is a bit ridiculous,” Logano said. “It’s how you want to define an athlete.”

“I the same way that if you give me a basketball, I’m not gonna be that great with it, is the same way you put an NBA player in a NASCAR race car and they’re not gonna be that great, either.”

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“Are you going to tell me that an NBA player is not an athlete because they can’t drive a race car? Probably not.”

Logano said he doesn’t get that.

“I think when people are competing at a high level … at the very top with the amount of pressure we all deal with … not to mention, obviously, the physical strains that it takes to drive these race cars these days … for a long period of time in tough conditions, it’s kinda hard to say we’re not,” he added. “But it’s an uneducated question from people who don’t understand our sport.”

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While the amount of training done by drivers varies, Logano is sponsored by Planet Fitness and says he does cardio and circuit training, even during the off-season.

The physical effort needed to drive a NASCAR Cup Series car was highlighted last week at the Circuit Of The Americas race, when Brad Keselowski’s cool suit failed and he needed to be stretchered to the medical center to be administered fluids via an IV after he finished in 15th place.