Joey Logano on nature of WGI racing: It's 'just insane out there'

To get a better understanding of the love-hate relationship NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have with the 2.45-mile road course at Watkins Glen, all you had to do was listen to Joey Logano after he finished second in Sunday's Cheez-It 355.  

Asked in the media center after the race to describe the drama of the final lap, Logano laughed and replied: "The final lap or the final 15?  It was crazy any way you look at it."  

Then Logano explained further.  

"Typical Watkins Glen," said the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford. "I mean, it's just awesome, crazy racing, full contact. Just insane out there."  

Having said all that, Logano went on to add that "it was a lot of fun from the driver's seat and I'm sure the fans loved it as well in front of a sold-out grandstand."

Now you know for certain. If you didn't think race-car drivers liked a little insanity before, Logano has confirmed it.  

He drove through a mess of wrecking cars and flying dirt and grass at the end of Sunday's race to finish second behind race winner Denny Hamlin.  

Others, of course, weren't as fortunate and left the race track fuming. But to hear Logano describe the unique challenges of racing at The Glen, he wouldn't want to have it any other way.  

"It's aggressive racing," he said. "Sometimes you're on the other end of it. Last week (at Pocono) I was on the other end of it."  

Asked what it was like to drive through several mishaps Sunday, including one on the final turn of the final lap when his teammate, Brad Keselowski, inadvertently turned the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota of Martin Truex Jr. as both tried to challenge Hamlin for the lead, Logano provided great insight.  

"A funny example was the 2 car (of Keselowski) going through the last corner there, as the 78 (of Truex) was sideways. He couldn't see. There's no visuals because you can't see two feet in front of you," Logano said. "You can't even see the hood of your car. It's like, 'Where am I?' ... You thought the fog in Pocono was bad? It's a lot worse than that."  

Considering the Sprint Cup race a week earlier in Pocono ended up being called short of its scheduled completion because of fog, that's saying something.  

"It's a product of, you know, just racing in general," Logano added. "Get sideways, put a hell of a smoke show up, or dirt. That's what you get. You can't see. You kind of go off memory of where you last could see and try to drive through it and hope no one's on the other side of it."  

If you make it through, you can end up with a great finish like Logano did on Sunday. If you don't, you might end up 20th -- or worse.