March 10, 2012
By Donalde z Smith
Joseph Thomas "Joey" Logano is embarking on his fourth year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) this year. Although he was nicknamed “sliced bread” by Randy LaJoie years ago; NASCAR Race Mom has not been all that impressed with his on-track performance.
Yes I know that in 2009, Logano finished 4th in his first Gatorade Duel and would become the youngest driver to ever start in the Daytona 500. Logano also won the rain-shortened Lenox Tools 301 at Loudon, New Hampshire, thereby becoming the youngest winner ever in NASCAR's top racing series at the age of only nineteen years, one month and four days. Logano went on to become the youngest Sprint Cup Series ‘Rookie of the Year’ in the 55-year history of the award. Further, he won a Coors Light Pole Award on March 19, 2010 for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Sounds impressive; however, when you consider that Mr. Logano inherited Tony Stewart’s #20 Home Depot ride on August 25th, 2008; frankly, I expected much more. Joe Gibbs Racing announced that the then teenager, Joey Logano, would replace Stewart as the driver of the #20 car for the 2009 season.
Photo Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR
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In his first year behind the wheel of The Home Depot Toyota, Logano earned three top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 2009. He ended his season twentieth in the point stands. When you add in his “expedient” win, 2009 was a good start to Logano’s Sprint Cup Career. Therefore, NASCAR Race Mom was expecting continued improvement in 2010.
In his second year, Logano delivered one pole, seven top-five and sixteen top-ten finishes. While there was not a win this year, Logano’s stats were improving as did his year-end position. He finished sixteenth in the 2010 Sprint Cup Series Championship.
Unfortunately, last year, Logano’s performance showcased as lack-luster. He only managed four top-five and six top-ten finishes.* His mediocre performance included finishing twenty-fourth in the point standings.
Back in 2011, Logano reported, "This year is definitely not what we expected it to be," We ended last year really good and we came in with a lot of high expectations. We kind of struggled with some things out of our control at the beginning of the season, motors, getting wrecked on pit road. But we still had speed in the cars."
I was worried that “Slice Bread” would not be able to live up to the high expectations that were placed upon him at such a young age.
Fast forward to this season - entering his fourth season at Joe Gibbs Racing**, Logano felt his team needed a new direction after its downhearted 2011 season. One change made was his crew chief. Jason Ratcliff joined the team as his new crew chief. Logano expressed happiness with the alteration.
“I definitely feel like it’s my team now,” Logano said. “With Jason there, I can voice my opinion and I think we’re all working together very well. We value each other’s opinion a lot and with the accomplishments we have, we respect each other a lot.”
Since we are only two races into this season, it might be a bit early to tell. Nevertheless, Joey Logano has run well both times and is currently a very impressive eighth in the point standings with two top-ten finishes. He is one of five drivers who can boost to finishing in the top 10 at both Daytona and Phoenix this year.
Whether the positive progress is due to Logano’s new crew chief or the fact that 2012 is the final year of Joey’s contract*** with Joe Gibb’s Racing, it will be interesting to see if the now twenty-one year old can continue to race at this enriched level.
“Every day brings a new challenge” Logano detailed, “I came into this gig thinking, I'm going to drive a racecar, the only thing I've done my whole life. When you have to lead a team, especially at a young age, all the guys working on the car are older than you; it's really hard to earn that respect. Especially when times are not as good, like last year, earning the guys' respect is very hard. You need to be able to do that one way or another. Learning how to be a leader was something I didn't know I was going to have to learn but was a huge deal and hard.”
It sounds like Joey Logano has matured tremendously in the last three years. NASCAR Race Mom would love to see Logano finish in the top-five at the fast Las Vegas Motor Speedway (race number 3 - KOBALT Tools 400 on Sunday) and/or keep his top-ten streak going. With an average finish of fourteenth at the track, this would be an attainable goal.
* It should be pointed out that Logano did earn two poles in 2011.
** Through two races, Joe Gibbs Racing has placed all three of its drivers in the top ten in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points. (Hamlin is in first, Logano is in eighth, and Kyle Busch is in ninth). It’s been awhile since they’ve accomplished the feat. Not since after Homestead in 2008 – Tony Stewart’s last race with the organization – has all three JGR members ranked in the top 10.
*** Dollar General will be the primary sponsor for twelve races and Home Depot will be the primary sponsor for the rest of the races.
If you would like to learn more about Donalde z Smith, please check out her web site at NASCAR Race Mom.
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