Rookie Logano Looking Forward To Sprint Cup Debut At Richmond
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Sep 04, 2008
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The 18-year-old driver has been racing against older and more experienced competitors since he was a toddler.
“I guess the only time I can remember ever being nervous in a car was when I took my driving test,” Logano said. “That’s because it would have been real embarrassing to fail it.”
He got his driver’s license just fine. And when it comes to race cars, Logano hasn’t known much failure. He has steadily climbed the racing ladder in since father Tom Logano first buckled him into a go-kart at age four.
But if ever there was a reason for the younger Logano to have another case of nerves, it is this week as he prepares for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup start at Richmond International Raceway. To make the field, he’ll have to qualify, since his No. 02 Joe Gibbs Racing entry is not among the top 35 in car owner points. And if it rains, a real possibility as forecasters watch Tropical Storm Hannah, Logano also won’t make the race.
“I think I’d feel weird without the pressure because I’ve kind of gotten used to it,” Logano said after being anointed as Stewart’s successor. “And if I didn’t have the pressure, I’d think something would be wrong. I’m 100 per cent cool with it.
“I go out there expecting to win. I go out there expecting my team to expect to win. I think that’s what everyone is here for and that is what I want my team to be here for.”
“I asked Joey, ‘Do you think it’s too quick? Would you rather spend more time?”’ Gibbs said. “Joey said, ‘To be quite truthful, every minute you (give) me in the car, I think I would be gaining experience. I don’t think I would benefit from having somebody else coaching me up or splitting races.“‘
