It Was Joey’s First, But It Won’t Be His Last

His entire career, he’s been running ahead of schedule. At a time when most guys his age hadn’t even studied for their learner’s permit, Joey Logano was planning a career racing a car. When he “turned pro”, the lanky Logano found his first win at NASCAR’s “junior varsity” level, while most of his “newbie” peers were finding the wall.

The master plan called for perfecting his chops in the Nationwide Series for at least a couple of seasons  before he took the cockpit of a Cup car full-time. Tony Stewart’s announced move to morph Haas- CNC Racing into Stewart- Haas Racing changed all that. “No problem” Joe and J.D. Gibbs figure. “We’ll just get him some seat time at the tail end of the (2008) season, and get some testing in before the start of the ‘09 season.” Then NASCAR announces a ban on testing prior to the start of Logano’s rookie year.

No doubt, the first few races bore glaring shades of green for a driver whose peers just discovered frat parties and final exams. When he wasn’t downright out of control, the Conneticut native appeared conspicuously conservative- a kind of “anti-Busch” if you will.

But things have been changing over the course of the last couple of months. Joey Logano has gone from  being a driver whose butt was skimming the “sub-35″ waters to standing on his own two feet. I take that back. Actually, there’s no way you can tell the rookie’s story without dishing up heaping helpings of credit the the guiding forces of his driving career. Since Ray Evernham isn’t active anymore, one would struggle to find a better crew chief this side of Chad Knaus to bring Logano along than Greg Zipadelli- a key figure in the NASCAR success story of two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart. Let’s also not forget the cool, calm and collected coaching the lad is getting on the Nationwide side from Dave Rogers.

These are just two examples of the quality within the Joe Gibbs organization. The fact is, there’s quality people from top to bottom at JGR- the same recipe for success that Coach Gibbs used during his football glory days with the Washington Redskins.

The point I’m working up to is this: you may take away Joey Logano’s win at New Hampshire if you will. Admittedly, he had no better than maybe a 20th to 25th place car Sunday. But whether or not you think this win is legitimate (how is Joey’s win less legit than Keselowski’s win at Talladega, or David Reutimann’s win at Lowes?), it was a matter of time before the wins would come. JGR has invested too wisely and planned too carefully from the time Logano was barely in high school for there to be any other outcome.

The brilliance the young man has achieved in the Nationwide Series (where he’s had more experience) will also quickly follow for more success at the Cup level. In case you’ve missed it amidst all the crowing over Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski, Logano has become a Nationwide stud with 2 wins, 8 top 5s, and 10 top 10s in 13 NNS starts. What this observer gleans from those numbers is the kid is a quick study.

Need further evidence? Tempted to dismiss his Nationwide performance because it’s a different car at a different level (don’t tell Busch and Edwards that)? Let’s consider his performance at the Cup level, where Joey Logano is just getting started. Since finishing 19th at Richmond- “Sliced Bread” has finished 9th at Darlington, 8th in the All-Star race, 9th in the Coca- Cola 600, a respectable 19th at Dover and 15th on the road course at Infineon before coming into New Hampshire.

Let’s put it another way. Let’s compare Logano’s performance to that of fellow rookie Scott Speed. The former open wheel stud sits in 35th and has one top 5 and one top 10, compared to Logano’s one win, one top 5 and 3 top 10s.

Or how about this? Joey Logano currently sits 21st in the standings- which puts him ahead of other heralded young guns like David Ragan, Reed Sorenson and A.J. Allmendinger. In fact, I’ll say the most fitting comparison in terms of equipment and organizational quality may be Ragan, and he presently sits 30th in the standings with a lone top 10 for the 2009 season.

Better than that, don’t take my word it. Consider the high praise Joey Logano has earned not only from Gibbs, but from guys who know a thing or two about racing success like Mark Martin and Donnie Allison. They believe that among all the NASCAR neophytes, this guy is the one to watch.

With all the focus of an Olympic athlete, Logano studies, listens, learns and drives. More so than even some of the up and comers a few years ahead, I see a driver focused and determined- unfazed by the trappings of fame and fortune.

So you can go ahead and cast aspersions on Joey Logano’s first career Sprint Cup win. I have news for you: there’s more coming.

Many more.

By the way- I want to take a moment to thank Patrick Reynolds for minding the store in my absence as I took my family on a little vacation to Disneyland and my wife’s 20 year high school reunion. Patrick kept things rolling while Jeremy T. Sellers chipped in with a few fine posts, and Miss Mustang Jackie chipped in with a humorous tale that reminds us there’s a world outside the track walls who simply don’t understand our burning passion for burning rubber.

Thanks for all your help and for keeping it all together in my absence.

PHOTO CREDITS- Logano with Bobby Allison by XSPImages. Logano’s Nationwide burnout by Johnny’s Photos. Bottom left photo by jimz68.