Why three-time NASCAR champion Joey Logano is bald now
Joey Logano arrived at Daytona with a noticeably different look: a clean-shaven head and a short beard. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion used the offseason to embrace baldness after another bout with alopecia, saying the change felt easier and more refreshing as he prepped for the new season.
What prompted the decision
Logano has long battled an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss in patches. After years of treating flare-ups and even turning hair-growth treatments into a sponsorship relationship, he told media at Daytona 500 Media Day on Wednesday (ET) that a recent recurrence led him to make a permanent change.
"My hair journey? It don't grow no more, " Logano said with a laugh. He explained that small areas stop growing and then sometimes come back, but after another flare-up this winter he decided to shave it all off. "I had another flare up and I just decided 'screw it, ' because this is easier, " he added, calling the new look "hair-o-dynamic. "
Family haircut and domestic approval
Logano described a lighthearted, family-centered moment behind the change: he handed clippers to his eight-year-old son, Hudson, and told him to "have fun" cutting his hair while his wife, Brittany, was out. He said Brittany had actually backed the idea for some time, and when he floated the possibility he told her, "hey, whatever you want. "
The gesture underscored how the decision was as much personal and practical as it was stylistic. Logano said it took time to make peace with the look, but that shaving his head made sense amid recurring patchy loss.
Public reaction and concerns about his health
Though Logano sees the change as straightforward, images of the new look prompted an outpouring of messages from fans asking whether he was okay. He said he was surprised by how many reached out, which prompted him to publicly confirm he was fine and that the change was driven by the autoimmune condition.
Logano also noted that the attention revealed a misconception: some assumed the new look signaled a health crisis, when in truth it was a considered, even liberating decision tied to a condition he has managed for years.
How teammates and peers reacted
The shift didn't happen in isolation. Other drivers and members of the paddock reacted with humor and support. One peer joked about potentially following suit someday, acknowledging the pressure drivers feel when TV close-ups capture their hairlines. The locker-room atmosphere was a mix of ribbing and acceptance, with plenty of encouragement for Logano's fresh head and trimmed beard.
What it means going forward
For Logano, the change is practical: less maintenance, fewer treatment sessions and one less thing to worry about during an already intense season. He described the feeling as "very refreshing now" and said shaving made the winter simpler.
On the cultural side, a high-profile driver openly discussing alopecia and choosing to shave his head can normalize visible results of autoimmune conditions. Whether it prompts a trend among fellow drivers or simply reduces stigma, Logano's choice made the condition more visible and opened a public conversation about handling hair loss with candor and humor.
As Logano prepares to take the track this season, the focus will remain on performance. For now, the three-time champion has traded a hairstyle saga for a streamlined routine—and a new look that has stirred chatter off the track as much as he stirs up speed on it.
