In a surprising turn of events, NASCAR officials revealed on Saturday that they had discovered a modified glove worn by Joey Logano during qualifying at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The alterations were so noticeable that it appeared as if Logano was sporting a part of an amphibious costume on his hand.

The glove in question, designed for Logano's left hand, featured webbing made of an unspecified material between each finger. The prevailing theory is that Logano had the glove modified to act as an aerodynamic blocker during qualifying at Atlanta, where he secured the second position on the starting grid.

During a random inspection at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR stumbled upon the altered glove. Although Denny Hamlin suggested that a rival team had tipped off NASCAR, officials clarified that it was a result of their own investigation. They couldn't confirm whether Logano had worn the glove when he claimed the pole position at the season-opening Daytona 500.

Fellow driver Corey Lajoie, when asked about the Daytona 500 qualifying, confirmed that Logano had indeed worn the webbed glove. Lajoie also speculated that the modified glove could have provided Logano with a three-count drag advantage. However, Logano himself declined to comment on whether he used the glove during his historic Daytona 500 pole win, emphasizing that he was not forced to wear it by his team.

Brad Moran, the NASCAR Cup Series managing director, announced that Logano's No. 22 Ford was one of five randomly selected cars for inspection after qualifying. The in-car camera immediately raised concerns among officials due to the noticeable alteration on the glove. Moran stressed that the glove violated both competition regulations and safety standards, as it provided an unfair advantage and posed a safety risk.

Logano, addressing the issue at Las Vegas, expressed confidence that he would never have used the glove if he believed it to be unsafe. He assured everyone that his priority was the well-being of his family rather than race cars. Logano was penalized for his actions at Atlanta, forfeiting his second-place starting position and starting from the back of the field. He also served a drive-through penalty on pit road as part of the competition penalty.

As a result of his violation, Logano faced a $10,000 fine for breaching NASCAR's safety code, specifically related to "Driver Responsibilities & Driver Protective Clothing/Equipment." Team owner Roger Penske expressed his disappointment in Logano's conduct, emphasizing that such actions were detrimental to the team's reputation.

Reigning Cup champion Ryan Blaney, another driver under the Penske organization, stated that there were no internal conversations among the Penske cars regarding the modified glove. Blaney also claimed ignorance about Logano's use of the altered glove. However, he acknowledged that teams often try to operate within a gray area, seeking performance gains without crossing the line drawn by their boss, Roger Penske.

In the aftermath of this controversial incident, NASCAR continues to maintain its commitment to fair competition and safety, and penalties are being enforced to deter any attempts to gain an unfair advantage. Logano, for his part, put the incident behind him and proved his speed on the track, winning his second pole of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

With this incident now in the rearview mirror, all eyes are on Logano as he aims to transform the pole position into a victory in the upcoming race. The NASCAR community will undoubtedly be closely watching Logano and Team Penske, expecting them to uphold the sport's integrity and adhere to the highest standards of fair play.