Kyle Petty, a former NASCAR driver and current analyst, has raised alarms regarding Joey Logano's performance in the ongoing 2026 NASCAR Cup Series. Petty specifically pointed out that the #22 Team Penske car lacks the necessary speed to compete effectively, which has hindered Logano's ability to achieve consistent results. Despite being a three-time Cup Series champion, Logano has only managed to secure two top-five finishes and has an average finishing position of 15.6 after the first eight races, placing him 12th in the points standings with 218 points. In contrast, his teammate Ryan Blaney has demonstrated better performance, including a recent win at Phoenix Raceway. Petty emphasized that Logano's struggles in qualifying have been evident, often starting in the lower positions, which complicates his ability to race competitively from the back. Additionally, Petty expressed surprise at Ty Gibbs' recent victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, noting it was unexpected for Gibbs to win before more established drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing, such as Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell.