Have you ever sat down and talked with a champion, or someone who’s the best at what they do? One of the humongous privileges I’ve had in my career is that I’ve had the chance to sit and talk eye-to-eye with many of life’s winners. They all come from different backgrounds and their personalities are diverse. There is one thing- among a few- they all have in common, though: confidence- not a “think I can” mentality, but an “I will” spirit.
Tom Brady has it. Michael Jordan had it in overflowing supply. So does Derek Jeter, Tiger Woods, and in NASCAR- Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.
It’s early in the game, but I see that same demeanor in Joey Logano. He’s been a winner wherever he’s gone and he’s got the right attitude now. Logano knows better than anyone that it’s an insult to the sport to think he can go out there, take on the world’s best and live up to the hype forecast for him.
Is he frustrated at his start? Sure- Joey Logano wants to win. EVERY driver from Jeff Gordon to Travis Kvapil wants to win. but you can tell he gets that his career will likely start more like Gordon’s did than Tony Stewart’s.
Besides his attitude, the rookie has one other huge plus: Joe Gibbs and track record for grooming winners.
Never underestimate the impact of a team owner like Gibbs who has devoted his entire life to honing and developing young men in the arenas of competition. While guiding the NFL’s Washington Redskins to Super Bowl victories, Gibbs spent paved the road to glory with hard work, perspiration and inspiration. You can rest assured the JGR organization is not freaking out over Logano’s 33rd place start in the standings. When you start them this green, there are going to be days like Atlanta and Daytona.
Joseph Logano was born born May 24, 1990 in Middletown, Conneticut. The racing started at 6 years old in quarter midgets. By the following year, the one known as “Sliced Bread” (for Heaven’s sake, somebody pleas pin a better monicker on him than that) won his first Eastern Grand National championship in the Junior Stock Car division. Before Logano reached the age of 10, he was piling up trophies like the Eagles pile up gold records.
Joey isn’t athlete in the family- and yes, race car drivers are athletes. His sister was looking to further her career as a figure skater and that meant a move to Georgia. Logano racked up a winning streak of 14 consecutive wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway while racing Legend cars. At 12, he won a Pro Legends National Championship- the youngest ever.
Throughout his early teens, Logano was entering (and winning) just about everywhere he could compete. At one point, he caught the attention of Mark Martin, winner of a combined 93 Cup and Nationwide/ Busch Series races said that Logano was “the real deal….without a doubt he can be one of the greatest that ever raced in NASCAR. No doubt about it.”
After Logano turned 15, he entered his first USAR Hooter Pro Cup Series. A month later, he got his first win.
Thanks to a change in rules, Logano was old enough to compete in NASCAR Grand National races in 2007. He made 13 starts in the Camping World East series- taking the series by storm. In 13 starts, Logano won 5 races, 3 poles, 10 top 5s and 10 top 10s.
After he turned 17, Joey Logano made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut on May 31, 2008 in Dover. Logano finished 6th. He also won the pole at Kentucky and Nashville. In just his 3rd NNS start, he won the Meijer 300 at Kentucky. With the win, Joey Logano broke Casey Atwood’s record for the youngest driver to win a race in NASCAR’s “second” national touring series. Logano would miss starts in mid-season due to sponsorship commitments made with respect to other drivers. All told, Logano ran 19 races, with a win, 5 top 5s, and 14 top 10s.
Logano’s Cup debut came at the Sylvania 300 in Loudon, New Hampshire on September 22, 2008. Logano finished 32nd after starting 40th. He made two more starts- finishing 39th and 40th.
Showing a rougher edge, Joey Logano was disqualified of an All-Star race win after it was deemed his hit on rival Peyton Sellers was “unsportsmanlike.” Rough might be a good way to describe his opening performances in 2009.
After finishing 28th in the Bud Shootout, Joey Logano placed 4th in one of the Gatorade Duel heats. At the Daytona 500, Logano’s day came to an unceremonious end after a crash with fellow rookie Scott Speed. Logano ended the day in 43rd. Since then- he’s followed with a 26th at California, 13th at Las Vegas and 30th in Atlanta.
You look at his resume, and you’ll be a fool to bet against him. It can be argued that a full year of Nationwide Series driving would help, but that’s not the cards Joey Logano has been dealt.
If anyone can handle it, he can. With Joe and J.D. Gibbs, crew chief Greg Zipadelli and his family behind him- he’ll be just fine. In an article today by Shawn Courchesne of the Hartford Courant chronicles how Logano took valuable time to visit Darlington to watch the testing going on. So not only does he have good people and a good attitude, he’s got the work ethic to succeed.
Sal Sigala Jr. also wrote a good piece today at fanzonesports.com that I would also say an “Amen” to. I get people tend to be cynical when it comes to a newcomer hyped the way Logano has. Just remember- he didn’t ask for it- let alone demand it. Me? it’s like the words from an old Mac Davis song: “I’d rather help somebody up, than kick him while he’s down…”
The kid alright. Just wait and see.
{ 2 comments }
I feel sorry for Logano. He has media all over him right now. And sadly, the way the media goes, its going to start getting negative towards him, especially if he doesn’t make it into the top-35. Its not right, because he is just 18 and has many years to go. Joe rushed him in too fast, I believe. I (and I am obviously not a team owner) would have run Logano in the truck series for a year. The trucks are the closest he will get to a car in the Cup Series, and would pretty much guaranteed to make it in because of the Truck’s small fields. Then, he could run Logano in a handful of Cup events at the intermediate tracks, and get another driver to run the 20 for a year, or even split the 20 with Logano. This way, the 20 would still be in the top-35 (hopefully) and Logano would have more experience in 2010.
Kyle, I still think Logano is going to stay in the top 35, I saw a video of Denny Hamlin talking about Joey, and he says that Joey will be competitive this year. I am a firm believer that there are some tracks, just like Las Vegas, that Joey will do well at.
Comments on this entry are closed.