WOW!!!!!! What a finish to a great race. I really had expected today's race to get really boring after having such an early BIG ONE. I was very wrong about that. I have to say that today's race was one of the most exciting I have seen in a while and what a finish. I thought yesterday's finish in the Nationwode race was one of the best but today's finish would prove to be the best. I still can't believe Bad Keselowski won the race. It had seemed that his car wasn't very fast most of the day since he about got ran over a couple times from going slow and appearing to be in the way. He did an awesome job of drafting with Mr. Ed Carl and pushing his way to the front. I was also impressed that Carl didn't blame Brad at all for what happened. He said it straight up that he didn't realize that Brad had gotten up that far beside him and since there is a standing rule that you can not go below the yellow line that Brad had to hold his position. I am still in awe over that finish. Congrats to Brad on his first sprint cup win. Congrats to David on getting his first win yesterday and Congrats to Jr. for a great finish and making it through a race without missing his pits. I can't wait for next week.Copy and paste link below to see a video of today's finish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nlytg1bYI0
Brad Keselowski won his first Sprint Cup Series race Sunday after a dramatic final lap at Talladega Superspeedway when Carl Edwards' airborne car sailed into the fence near the finish line.
Seven fans were injured from debris that flew into the crowd, and Edwards warned that restrictor-plate racing is eventually going to kill someone.
Keselowski, racing in just his fifth career Cup race, hooked onto the rear of Edwards' bumper on the last lap to push him past Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Once clear of them, Keselowski peeked around Edwards to make a move for the lead.
Edwards tried to block the move by darting low, but Keselowski was too close to his bumper and the contact sent Edwards sailing up the track. His spinning car shot over Newman's hood and into the safety fence on the frontstretch.
The fence swelled toward the race fans but held, and Edwards' car landed back on the track. Officials said none of the injuries to fans was life-threatening.
Dr. Bobby Lewis, Talladega's onsite physician, said two people in the crowd were airlifted from the track to avoid the heavy traffic. One woman had a possible broken jaw, Lewis said, and another had an undisclosed medical issue.
Edwards, who climbed from his crumpled race car and ran on foot across the finish line, railed against the racing style at Talladega and Daytona, the two tracks where horsepower-sapping restrictor plates are used.
"We'll race like this until we kill somebody," said Edwards, "then (NASCAR) will change it."
Restrictor plates are used to combat the high speeds at NASCAR's two fastest tracks, and the plates typically keep the field bunched tightly together. One wrong move by a driver can cause a massive accident.
In addition to Edwards' frightening flight into the fence, Sunday's race was also marred by a 13-car crash on the seventh lap and another 10-car accident with nine to go.
"Talladega is short for 'We're going to crash, we just don't know when,"' said Newman, the third-place finisher, who also recalled Matt Kenseth's fiery tumble in the Nationwide Series race on Saturday.
"We saw that two times this weekend, so maybe we need to look at things that keep the car down on the ground."
Earnhardt Jr., a five-time Talladega winner and seven-time winner of restrictor-plate races, finished second but echoed concerns about the racing style. Drivers dread it because so much is out of their control, but Earnhardt said it's loved by fans because of the element of danger.
"For years, we've had wrecks like this every time we've come to Talladega. Ever since the plate got here. And for years it was celebrated," he said. "The media celebrated it, the networks celebrated it, calling it 'The Big One' just trying to attract attention and bring people's attention to the race.
"So there's a responsibility with the media and the networks and the sanctioning body itself to come to their senses a little bit."
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Another blow for Junior
NASCAR Sprint Cup has a dilemma.And the dilemma is a green and white Chevrolet with the No. 88 on both doors and the roof.The driver's name is Dale Earnhardt Jr. and he has a bigger fan base than the next nine drivers behind you combined. If there is a royal family of racing, Earnhardt certainly is the crown prince.He commands the largest salary in the NASCAR garage, and sponsors -- even in these tough economic times -- line up to have their names on the quarter panels of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.Heck, not even David Copperfield could change a sea of red into a sea of green at a NASCAR event faster than Earnhardt did when he changed sponsors from Budweiser to Mountain Dew last season.But he sits here this week waiting to race at his favourite track -- Talladega Superspeedway -- way back in 19th place in the championship, 399 points behind his teammate Jeff Gordon.And yesterday NASCAR announced that it has placed Earnhardt and Casey Mears on probation for the next six races as a result of their on-track incident last Saturday at the conclusion of the race at Phoenix International Raceway.Earnhardt and Mears, officials ruled, violated Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor's car after the race had concluded) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.This comes at a time when "Little E" needs to start putting some big time numbers on the board. Earnhardt has won NASCAR's most popular driver award for the past five consecutive years, but has won only one race (Michigan 2008) in the past three seasons.There is a theory that the No. 88 car can do no wrong because of the heritage and popularity Earnhardt carries with him. In fact, there are more than a few conspiracy nuts who swear NASCAR does everything within its power to help the No. 88 win.But really, in what professional sport would a 19th place competitor be given that kind of star treatment?Earnhardt, if he wants to keep being on the receiving end of the love and cash that goes with his name, will have to take action to at least mollify his legion of fans who, frankly, just might be getting restless. There are four drivers in the Hendrick garage. Three of them have won races this season, but the No. 88 team can't even get a sniff.It's time for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to do some winning on his own, or do what Bill Elliott did when he stopped winning in the Cup series, and withdraw his name from the annual most popular driver award.
Martin races back to Victory Lane
I couldn't have been happier to see Mark Martin win the race here in Phx. Saturday night. OK well maybe I could have been happier if Dale Jr. would get his head out of his ass and start winning some races. Hell, some top 5 or even top 10 finished would be great. Never the less I have always been a fan of Mark Martin and it was awesome to see him get the job done in what looked to be a very easy fashion. I also have to mention that I am excited to see Tony Stewart doing so well as a first year owner/driver and that first win for him is in the very near future. Mark was to strong for him on Sunday but Tony definately had the second best car on the track.
Mark Martin puts in long hours in the gym and thinks the last time he ate fast food was a Burger King run some 15 years ago.
He lives his life like a man half of his age.
And drives like it, too.
The 50-year-old Martin became the third-oldest winner in NASCAR history Saturday night, snapping a 97-race winless streak with a dominating run at Phoenix International Raceway.
"I told the guys I don't have any problem keeping up with a 25-year-old - at least not for the next 15 minutes," Martin said. "I feel really good."
Martin, who has waffled on retirement several times in the last four years, started from the pole and led 157 of 312 laps. But a late caution erased his 4-second lead over Tony Stewart with 11 laps to go, sending the leaders into the pits and putting his victory on the line.
Ryan Newman stayed on track to assume the lead, and Martin won a frantic race off pit road to emerge in second. But he had Tony Stewart - Newman's car owner and teammate - right behind him, and only six laps to race to the front.
Martin only needed about 6 seconds.
Martin shot past Newman on the restart, then drove away to his first win since Kansas in 2005.
The last 50-year-old to win a Cup race was Morgan Shepherd in 1993 at Atlanta. Harry Gant holds the record as the oldest driver to win a Cup race. He was 52 when he won at Michigan in 1992.
Before Martin, only three drivers 50 or older won Cup races: Gant, Shepherd and Bobby Allison.
"Age is irrelevant with Mark," crew chief Alan Gustafson said. "I don't even think about it. It doesn't even come into the equation. Mark's enthusiasm, his energy, his drive ... he's incredible. He's as good as any of them."
Martin was visited by NASCAR president Mike Helton and several competitors in Victory Lane, including former boss Jack Roush and former teammates Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth.
It was Martin's 36th career victory, but first without Roush. He spent 18 years driving for Roush, but left after the 2006 season because he had planned to retire at the end of that season, but Roush had filled his seat before he changed his mind.
"He seemed genuinely happy," Martin said of Roush's Victory Lane visit.
So did everyone else.
"There's no shame in losing to a guy like Mark Martin," said Stewart, who finished second. "I am really happy for Mark. Nobody works harder than Mark to be fit, to stay in shape and be ready to go."
Busch was third, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Biffle.
"There's no shame in losing to a guy like Mark Martin," Stewart said. "I am really happy for Mark. Nobody works harder than Mark to be fit, to stay in shape and be ready to go."
The praise poured in from every corner of the garage for Martin, who is widely considered to be the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship.
Around the track
"The guy has been at the top of his game in the sport for 30 years," said Busch, who raced with Martin at Roush. "He's a tremendous athlete, a tremendous individual and he's definitely going to put together."
That elusive Cup title is what lured him to drive for Rick Hendrick this year for his first full season in three years. He spent the last two years in a part-time ride for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which re-energized him for another grueling 10-month season. After finishing second in the championship race a maddening four times, Hendrick offered him the No. 5 Chevrolet and likely his best - and final - shot at a title.
But his optimism was dashed after horrendous early season luck sabotaged strong cars and dropped Martin to 34th in the standings. His victory pushed five spots from 18th to 13th, and he's now just nine points out of the final qualifying spot for the Chase for the championship.
He didn't want to discuss his championship hopes afterward.
"I am not going to ruin a good time by worrying about," he said. "Let me enjoy this."
Martin received a congratulatory phone call in Victory Lane from Hendrick, who wasn't on hand to see an HMS driver win for the third straight race. Johnson won at Martinsville and Jeff Gordon won at Texas.
"He just congratulated me, man," Martin said of the phone call. "He makes dreams come true."
Martin celebrated his win with a backward victory lap as a tribute to his late friend Alan Kulwicki.
"You guys knew I wasn't going to do a burnout," he joked.
Mark Martin puts in long hours in the gym and thinks the last time he ate fast food was a Burger King run some 15 years ago.
He lives his life like a man half of his age.
And drives like it, too.
The 50-year-old Martin became the third-oldest winner in NASCAR history Saturday night, snapping a 97-race winless streak with a dominating run at Phoenix International Raceway.
"I told the guys I don't have any problem keeping up with a 25-year-old - at least not for the next 15 minutes," Martin said. "I feel really good."
Martin, who has waffled on retirement several times in the last four years, started from the pole and led 157 of 312 laps. But a late caution erased his 4-second lead over Tony Stewart with 11 laps to go, sending the leaders into the pits and putting his victory on the line.
Ryan Newman stayed on track to assume the lead, and Martin won a frantic race off pit road to emerge in second. But he had Tony Stewart - Newman's car owner and teammate - right behind him, and only six laps to race to the front.
Martin only needed about 6 seconds.
Martin shot past Newman on the restart, then drove away to his first win since Kansas in 2005.
The last 50-year-old to win a Cup race was Morgan Shepherd in 1993 at Atlanta. Harry Gant holds the record as the oldest driver to win a Cup race. He was 52 when he won at Michigan in 1992.
Before Martin, only three drivers 50 or older won Cup races: Gant, Shepherd and Bobby Allison.
"Age is irrelevant with Mark," crew chief Alan Gustafson said. "I don't even think about it. It doesn't even come into the equation. Mark's enthusiasm, his energy, his drive ... he's incredible. He's as good as any of them."
Martin was visited by NASCAR president Mike Helton and several competitors in Victory Lane, including former boss Jack Roush and former teammates Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth.
It was Martin's 36th career victory, but first without Roush. He spent 18 years driving for Roush, but left after the 2006 season because he had planned to retire at the end of that season, but Roush had filled his seat before he changed his mind.
"He seemed genuinely happy," Martin said of Roush's Victory Lane visit.
So did everyone else.
"There's no shame in losing to a guy like Mark Martin," said Stewart, who finished second. "I am really happy for Mark. Nobody works harder than Mark to be fit, to stay in shape and be ready to go."
Busch was third, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Biffle.
"There's no shame in losing to a guy like Mark Martin," Stewart said. "I am really happy for Mark. Nobody works harder than Mark to be fit, to stay in shape and be ready to go."
The praise poured in from every corner of the garage for Martin, who is widely considered to be the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship.
Around the track
"The guy has been at the top of his game in the sport for 30 years," said Busch, who raced with Martin at Roush. "He's a tremendous athlete, a tremendous individual and he's definitely going to put together."
That elusive Cup title is what lured him to drive for Rick Hendrick this year for his first full season in three years. He spent the last two years in a part-time ride for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which re-energized him for another grueling 10-month season. After finishing second in the championship race a maddening four times, Hendrick offered him the No. 5 Chevrolet and likely his best - and final - shot at a title.
But his optimism was dashed after horrendous early season luck sabotaged strong cars and dropped Martin to 34th in the standings. His victory pushed five spots from 18th to 13th, and he's now just nine points out of the final qualifying spot for the Chase for the championship.
He didn't want to discuss his championship hopes afterward.
"I am not going to ruin a good time by worrying about," he said. "Let me enjoy this."
Martin received a congratulatory phone call in Victory Lane from Hendrick, who wasn't on hand to see an HMS driver win for the third straight race. Johnson won at Martinsville and Jeff Gordon won at Texas.
"He just congratulated me, man," Martin said of the phone call. "He makes dreams come true."
Martin celebrated his win with a backward victory lap as a tribute to his late friend Alan Kulwicki.
"You guys knew I wasn't going to do a burnout," he joked.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Gordon Ends Winless Streak With A Win at Texas
I was cheering for anyone on the track to win this race besides Gordon. A 147 race win less streak for him wouldn't be enough as far as I am concerned. Never liked him,can't stand to listen to him,and never will. I still think the reason he has went so long without a win is because he isn't a good driver. He has never been able to make a bad car work for him and the car has to be perfect if he is going to do any good. Today the crew chief got the car just right so they won. I thought for sure that Carl Edwards had him beat until that final pit stop where his chances were spoiled. Not that I like Jimmie Johnson any more than Gordon but I was wishing there was a few more laps so he could get past Gordon. Instead I was stuck listening to that whining Jeff Gordon in victory lane. Although I am man enough to congratulate him and his team on their win I don't have to like it. I wish it would have been someone else. Anyone else would have been fine with me.
Jeff Gordon ended the longest win less drought of his career, beating Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson to finally win at Texas.
Gordon won for the first time in 48 races Sunday at the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked Texas Motor Speedway, one of only two active tracks where the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion had never won a race.
It was the 17th Cup race at Texas, the track where Gordon has the only two last-place finishes in his 552 career starts. One of the 43rd-place finishes came last spring before he was the runner-up to Carl Edwards in the fall race after winning the pole.
"How ironic is this that when we go into this streak and we end it here in Texas, a place that's just eluded us for so long," Gordon said. "Incredible team effort. This whole year has been amazing. What a great car. I've never had a car like this at Texas. We finally had one and put it in position."
Gordon, already the season points leader with four top-five finishes in the first six races, did a few burnouts on the frontstretch before grabbing the checkered flag and taking his No. 24 Chevrolet for a long-awaited victory lap - his first since October 2007 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte.
The only track he now hasn't won at is Homestead. He'll have to wait until the season finale in November for a chance to change that.
During interviews in Victory Lane at Texas, before firing the celebratory six-shooters, Gordon had to sneak a peek at the logos on his car to remind himself of everybody he needed to thank. It had been a long time, especially by his standards.
Rick Hendrick wasn't there, so Gordon tried to talked to him by cell phone from Victory Lane. Also missing were his wife and daughter.
"I'm just thrilled. I can't wait to get home to Ingrid and Ella," Gordon said. "I know (Ella) was saying 'Go poppy go' all day long. I hate that they couldn't come."
Gordon won by 0.542 seconds over Johnson with an average speed of 146.372 mph for his 82nd career victory, one behind Cale Yarborough for fifth on the all-time list. Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip are tied for third on that list with 84 victories.
Edwards, going for his third consecutive Cup victory at Texas, was leading when the final caution came out because David Stremme got loose and spun coming out of the third turn with 30 laps to go in the 334-lap race.
But Edwards' crew had problems changing tires and he dropped 10 spots to 11th coming off pit row. Gordon had a flawless stop, moving from third to first and staying ahead the rest of the race.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. took only two right-side tires and went from 12th to first on a restart with 76 laps to go.
But Earnhardt quickly lost that lead between turns one and two when Kyle Busch, trying to regain a lost lap, got loose and bumped him. Earnhardt got pushed to the top of the track, allowing Gordon to charge ahead.
Gordon was still holding the lead with 39 laps left when he got caught in traffic and Edwards slid under him into first. Tony Stewart got past Gordon a few laps later and that was the running order when Stremme spun out.
Greg Biffle finished third, followed by Stewart and Matt Kenseth. Edwards finished 10th, a spot ahead of polesitter David Reutimann.
Reutimann, driving a No. 00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip, didn't even lead the first lap. Gordon did, passing him as they crossed the start-finish-line for the first time.
Gordon led six times for 105 laps in a race that featured 28 lead changes, nine more than any other Cup race this season and one short of the Texas record.
Gordon led the first seven laps, but gave up the lead because of some handling issues with his car. But he was never too far from the front, never out of the top 10.
Biffle, led three times for 93 laps and his Roush Fenway teammate Kenseth had three leads for 55 laps. Edwards one time in front lasted nine laps.
Jeff Gordon ended the longest win less drought of his career, beating Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson to finally win at Texas.
Gordon won for the first time in 48 races Sunday at the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked Texas Motor Speedway, one of only two active tracks where the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion had never won a race.
It was the 17th Cup race at Texas, the track where Gordon has the only two last-place finishes in his 552 career starts. One of the 43rd-place finishes came last spring before he was the runner-up to Carl Edwards in the fall race after winning the pole.
"How ironic is this that when we go into this streak and we end it here in Texas, a place that's just eluded us for so long," Gordon said. "Incredible team effort. This whole year has been amazing. What a great car. I've never had a car like this at Texas. We finally had one and put it in position."
Gordon, already the season points leader with four top-five finishes in the first six races, did a few burnouts on the frontstretch before grabbing the checkered flag and taking his No. 24 Chevrolet for a long-awaited victory lap - his first since October 2007 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte.
The only track he now hasn't won at is Homestead. He'll have to wait until the season finale in November for a chance to change that.
During interviews in Victory Lane at Texas, before firing the celebratory six-shooters, Gordon had to sneak a peek at the logos on his car to remind himself of everybody he needed to thank. It had been a long time, especially by his standards.
Rick Hendrick wasn't there, so Gordon tried to talked to him by cell phone from Victory Lane. Also missing were his wife and daughter.
"I'm just thrilled. I can't wait to get home to Ingrid and Ella," Gordon said. "I know (Ella) was saying 'Go poppy go' all day long. I hate that they couldn't come."
Gordon won by 0.542 seconds over Johnson with an average speed of 146.372 mph for his 82nd career victory, one behind Cale Yarborough for fifth on the all-time list. Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip are tied for third on that list with 84 victories.
Edwards, going for his third consecutive Cup victory at Texas, was leading when the final caution came out because David Stremme got loose and spun coming out of the third turn with 30 laps to go in the 334-lap race.
But Edwards' crew had problems changing tires and he dropped 10 spots to 11th coming off pit row. Gordon had a flawless stop, moving from third to first and staying ahead the rest of the race.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. took only two right-side tires and went from 12th to first on a restart with 76 laps to go.
But Earnhardt quickly lost that lead between turns one and two when Kyle Busch, trying to regain a lost lap, got loose and bumped him. Earnhardt got pushed to the top of the track, allowing Gordon to charge ahead.
Gordon was still holding the lead with 39 laps left when he got caught in traffic and Edwards slid under him into first. Tony Stewart got past Gordon a few laps later and that was the running order when Stremme spun out.
Greg Biffle finished third, followed by Stewart and Matt Kenseth. Edwards finished 10th, a spot ahead of polesitter David Reutimann.
Reutimann, driving a No. 00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip, didn't even lead the first lap. Gordon did, passing him as they crossed the start-finish-line for the first time.
Gordon led six times for 105 laps in a race that featured 28 lead changes, nine more than any other Cup race this season and one short of the Texas record.
Gordon led the first seven laps, but gave up the lead because of some handling issues with his car. But he was never too far from the front, never out of the top 10.
Biffle, led three times for 93 laps and his Roush Fenway teammate Kenseth had three leads for 55 laps. Edwards one time in front lasted nine laps.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
2009 Samsung 500 Starting Lineup
1 0 David Reutimann
2 24 Jeff Gordon
3 17 Matt Kenseth
4 6 David Ragan
5 98 Paul Menard
6 9 Kasey Kahne
7 14 Tony Stewart
8 18 Kyle Busch
9 48 Jimmie Johnson
10 20 Joey Logano
11 47 Marcos Ambrose
12 77 Sam Hornish Jr.
13 99 Carl Edwards
14 16 Greg Biffle
15 31 Jeff Burton
16 42 Juan Pablo
17 29 Kevin Harvick
18 83 Brian Vickers
19 33 Clint Bowyer
20 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
21 39 Ryan Newman
22 11 Denny Hamlin
23 5 Mark Martin
24 96 Bobby Labonte
25 44 A J Allmendinger
26 34 John Andretti
27 9 Mike Bliss
28 2 Kurt Busch
29 7 Robby Gordon
30 71 David Gilliland
31 1 Martin Truex Jr.
32 12 David Stremme
33 78 Regan Smith
34 55 Michael Waltrip
35 7 Casey Mears
36 26 Jamie McMurray
37 21 Bill Elliott
38 43 Reed Sorenson
39 13 Max Papis
40 25 Brad Keselowski
41 8 Aric Almirola
42 19 Elliott Sadler
43 66 Dave Blaney
2 24 Jeff Gordon
3 17 Matt Kenseth
4 6 David Ragan
5 98 Paul Menard
6 9 Kasey Kahne
7 14 Tony Stewart
8 18 Kyle Busch
9 48 Jimmie Johnson
10 20 Joey Logano
11 47 Marcos Ambrose
12 77 Sam Hornish Jr.
13 99 Carl Edwards
14 16 Greg Biffle
15 31 Jeff Burton
16 42 Juan Pablo
17 29 Kevin Harvick
18 83 Brian Vickers
19 33 Clint Bowyer
20 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
21 39 Ryan Newman
22 11 Denny Hamlin
23 5 Mark Martin
24 96 Bobby Labonte
25 44 A J Allmendinger
26 34 John Andretti
27 9 Mike Bliss
28 2 Kurt Busch
29 7 Robby Gordon
30 71 David Gilliland
31 1 Martin Truex Jr.
32 12 David Stremme
33 78 Regan Smith
34 55 Michael Waltrip
35 7 Casey Mears
36 26 Jamie McMurray
37 21 Bill Elliott
38 43 Reed Sorenson
39 13 Max Papis
40 25 Brad Keselowski
41 8 Aric Almirola
42 19 Elliott Sadler
43 66 Dave Blaney
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Logano's struggles traced to NASCAR's ban on testing
He was supposed to be the next big thing, the next superstar driver.
Even his nickname, 'sliced bread' as in the best thing since, gave the impression that he would be taking the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by storm.
But so far, his on-track performance hasn’t seemed to match the off-track hype.
Joey Logano enjoyed a meteoric rise through the racing ranks. He began winning national championships at the age of seven and by the times he reached 12 had won a total of eight racing titles.
In 2005, at the age of 15, Joe Gibbs Racing signed Logano as a development driver. Soon after, he won a Hooters USAR Pro Cup Series race making him the youngest driver to ever do so.
In 2007, a 17-year-old Logano became the youngest ever champion of the NASCAR Busch Series East and was named Rookie of the Year.
Logano was forced to wait until his 18th birthday before taking the next step in his career.
Moving up to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008, Logano won his first race in just his third start. But the path of Logano's career took an unexpected turn when JGR driver and two-time champion Tony Stewart announced that he would leave the organization to become co-owner of his own team at the end of the season. On August 25th Logano was introduced as the fulltime driver of the No. 20 Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for 2009.
Despite all his previous success, however, Logano's first races in NASCAR’s top touring series have been less than memorable.
Logano was the youngest driver to ever start the Daytona 500, and after crashing several times during the week leading up to the race, Logano was the first out after a hard crash on lap 79. He finished last.
In the five races since Daytona, Logano’s best finish has been 13th, that coming at Vegas. He finished 26th, 30th, 38th and 32nd at the other events.
Not exactly the start many had predicted.
By comparison, the driver Logano replaced, Tony Stewart, finished 28th in the 1999 Daytona 500 in his rookie season. Stewart would go on to finish 12th, 36th, 11th and 6th twice in his first six races that season.
Denny Hamlin, Logano's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, finished 30th in his first Daytona 500 in 2005. Hamlin finished 12th, 10th, 31st, 14th and 37th in the next five races.
Both Stewart and Hamlin also won two races in their rookie seasons.
Team owner Joe Gibbs believes Logano’s struggles can be traded to NASCAR's ban on testing, along with just plain bad luck.
"A lot of things happened to us this year when we charted our course here," Gibbs said. "We got testing taken away from us. I think probably everybody would say it probably hurts the young guy a lot more than a vet, a guy that's been around. I think that was a tough deal for us. Really you pretty much have to show up at a racetrack.
"Many times Joey has been at someplace where he's never had a lap in a Cup car, the Car of Tomorrow. I think it's been a struggle for us," Gibbs added. "He's had two wrecks. Other people caused them. Then we blow a motor. It's been disheartening."
Things could be looking up for Logano, however, as he, the No. 20 team and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Sup Series head to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend.
While nothing can be done about racing luck, Logano will finally have something this week he hasn't had yet this season.
"This will be the first track I've gone back to in a Cup car," Logano said. "Even though we didn't have a great race last year, (he finished 40th, seven laps down) I will be able to take some of the stuff that I learned and use it this weekend. Plus, the teamwork is getting better every week with Zippy (crew chief Greg Zipadelli) and the guys."
Stewart still expects big things from Logano.
"It's just a matter of time before Joey hits his stride. He's got a lot of talent. That's why he's in that car. It's just a matter of getting used to it," said Tony Stewart. "You know, I've been over there, so I know there's nothing wrong with that organization, there's nothing wrong with that team. It's just a matter of them getting Joey some more seat time and getting him used to being in a Cup car full-time.
"He's more than capable of doing it," Stewart added. "He's going to hit his stride soon. You can see his confidence building every week."
Even his nickname, 'sliced bread' as in the best thing since, gave the impression that he would be taking the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by storm.
But so far, his on-track performance hasn’t seemed to match the off-track hype.
Joey Logano enjoyed a meteoric rise through the racing ranks. He began winning national championships at the age of seven and by the times he reached 12 had won a total of eight racing titles.
In 2005, at the age of 15, Joe Gibbs Racing signed Logano as a development driver. Soon after, he won a Hooters USAR Pro Cup Series race making him the youngest driver to ever do so.
In 2007, a 17-year-old Logano became the youngest ever champion of the NASCAR Busch Series East and was named Rookie of the Year.
Logano was forced to wait until his 18th birthday before taking the next step in his career.
Moving up to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008, Logano won his first race in just his third start. But the path of Logano's career took an unexpected turn when JGR driver and two-time champion Tony Stewart announced that he would leave the organization to become co-owner of his own team at the end of the season. On August 25th Logano was introduced as the fulltime driver of the No. 20 Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for 2009.
Despite all his previous success, however, Logano's first races in NASCAR’s top touring series have been less than memorable.
Logano was the youngest driver to ever start the Daytona 500, and after crashing several times during the week leading up to the race, Logano was the first out after a hard crash on lap 79. He finished last.
In the five races since Daytona, Logano’s best finish has been 13th, that coming at Vegas. He finished 26th, 30th, 38th and 32nd at the other events.
Not exactly the start many had predicted.
By comparison, the driver Logano replaced, Tony Stewart, finished 28th in the 1999 Daytona 500 in his rookie season. Stewart would go on to finish 12th, 36th, 11th and 6th twice in his first six races that season.
Denny Hamlin, Logano's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, finished 30th in his first Daytona 500 in 2005. Hamlin finished 12th, 10th, 31st, 14th and 37th in the next five races.
Both Stewart and Hamlin also won two races in their rookie seasons.
Team owner Joe Gibbs believes Logano’s struggles can be traded to NASCAR's ban on testing, along with just plain bad luck.
"A lot of things happened to us this year when we charted our course here," Gibbs said. "We got testing taken away from us. I think probably everybody would say it probably hurts the young guy a lot more than a vet, a guy that's been around. I think that was a tough deal for us. Really you pretty much have to show up at a racetrack.
"Many times Joey has been at someplace where he's never had a lap in a Cup car, the Car of Tomorrow. I think it's been a struggle for us," Gibbs added. "He's had two wrecks. Other people caused them. Then we blow a motor. It's been disheartening."
Things could be looking up for Logano, however, as he, the No. 20 team and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Sup Series head to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend.
While nothing can be done about racing luck, Logano will finally have something this week he hasn't had yet this season.
"This will be the first track I've gone back to in a Cup car," Logano said. "Even though we didn't have a great race last year, (he finished 40th, seven laps down) I will be able to take some of the stuff that I learned and use it this weekend. Plus, the teamwork is getting better every week with Zippy (crew chief Greg Zipadelli) and the guys."
Stewart still expects big things from Logano.
"It's just a matter of time before Joey hits his stride. He's got a lot of talent. That's why he's in that car. It's just a matter of getting used to it," said Tony Stewart. "You know, I've been over there, so I know there's nothing wrong with that organization, there's nothing wrong with that team. It's just a matter of them getting Joey some more seat time and getting him used to being in a Cup car full-time.
"He's more than capable of doing it," Stewart added. "He's going to hit his stride soon. You can see his confidence building every week."
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