Joey Logano, from Connecticut, turned 18 last Saturday, becoming eligible to race in NASCAR’s national series. He wasn’t even 16 when Joe Gibbs Racing signed him as a development driver.
Plans are for Logano to run in 18 of the 22 races remaining on the Nationwide schedule, driving the No. 20 Toyota. That’s an appropriate number, because Logano could wind up in JGR’s No. 20 Sprint Cup Toyota if Tony Stewart elects to take his services elsewhere. If Tony stays, Logano would become JGR’s fourth Sprint Cup driver.
Gibbs has likely invested several million dollars in Logano in the three years he’s been in JGR’s developmental system. The team won the race to sign him after veteran Mark Martin raved about the then 15-year-old “real deal” who was cleaning up in everything from legends to late models.
“I am high on Joey Logano because I am absolutely, 100 per cent positive, without a doubt that he can be one of the greatest that ever raced in NASCAR,” Martin said in 2005. “I’m positive. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
“It was special for us to take Joey out there and kind of work with our East-West guys for a while, do some Pro Cup racing and then when our Cup guys really had some time with him, they were bragging on him and said he was ready now - and that was last year,” team president J.D. Gibbs said.
“That kind of goes back to what Mark Martin told me several years ago when he was still 15, that he could go out there right now and drive these cars. I thought he was crazy at the time, but Mark has good wisdom because he really wasn’t that far off.”
“He’ll have a lot to live up to, but I told him he doesn’t have to go out there and win every race like we are,” JGR’s Kyle Busch said. “He’s just got to go out there and learn, and pace himself, and be competitive and fast. You know that’s the biggest thing he’s got to do and not put yourself in the situations that are going to get you wrecked. I think he’ll be fine.”
UPDATE: May 30, 2008 06:31 am
Clearly Joey Logano’s stepping up in class now, competing against the likes of Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Clint Bowyer in NASCAR’s No. 2 series. But the mere fact he’s driving Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Toyota makes him a threat despite his lack of experience at this level. The No. 20 team has won six times already this season and with multiple drivers – Busch, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.
Without a crystal ball or time machine, it’s impossible to know. But there is this certainty: Logano is starting his NASCAR experience in earnest with one of the sport’s most well-heeled organizations. He’ll have the benefit of top-notch equipment and personnel including teammates like Busch, Hamlin and Stewart (at least through 2008) to lean on for advice.
If the stars align right, and he meets or exceeds expectations as a Nationwide newbie, Logano could possibly even take over Stewart’s Cup seat next year should the two-time champion exit JGR.
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