Joey Logano
Encyclopedia
Joseph Thomas "Joey" Logano (born May 24, 1990), nicknamed "sliced bread" (as in the greatest thing since) by Randy LaJoie
, is an American
stock car
auto racing
race car driver who currently drives the #20 Home Depot
Toyota Camry
in the Sprint Cup Series and the #20 GameStop
/Sport Clips
Toyota Camry
in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing
.
Logano's first major NASCAR win came during the Meijer 300
at Kentucky Speedway
in just his third start in the 2008 Nationwide Series
. Logano made history becoming the youngest driver to win a Nationwide Series race at old. The previous youngest was Casey Atwood
in 1999 at . Logano became the youngest winner in Sprint Cup Series history when he won the 2009
Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway at . The previous youngest was teammate Kyle Busch
in 2005 at . Logano is now the youngest winner in two of NASCAR'S three top divisions. Logano is also the first NASCAR driver to be born in the 1990s to compete in NASCAR
's three major divisions.
. In 1997 Logano won his first Eastern Grand National Championship in the Jr. Stock Car Division. He followed it up with a Jr. Honda Division Championship in 1998 and in early 1999 a Lt. Mod.
Division Championship. Later in 1999 Logano won 3 New England Regional Championships in the Sr. Stock, Lt. Mod., Lt. B. divisions.
Logano's family then moved to Georgia
. The transaction allowed Logano to win a Bandolero Bandits Series Championship. At age 10 he went on to racing Legend cars, where he set a 14-consecutive winning streak track record at the Atlanta Motor Speedway
, along with a Lions National Championship. At age 12, Logano won the Southeast-based Pro Legends National championship. Afterwards he spent a couple years racing various forms of pavement Late Model racing.
Veteran NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Mark Martin, who was driving for Jack Roush(Roush Fenway Racing) at the time, called Joey Logano "the real deal". When Logano was 15, Martin said "I am high on Joey Logano because I am absolutely, 100-percent positive, without a doubt that he can be one of the greatest that ever raced in NASCAR. I'm positive. There's no doubt in mind."
In 2005, he ran in 1 FASCAR Pro Truck Series
race at the New Smyrna Speedway
, started 1st and finished 2nd. He raced in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
, competing seven times in the Northern Division, and winning once at Mansfield, two Southern Division races, and five Championship Series races. The following season, he continued racing in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. He raced in twelve Southern Division races, winning twice at South Georgia Motorsports Park and at USA International Speedway. He ran in one USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Northern Division race and six Championship Series races.
In 2007, a new NASCAR rule allowed drivers 16 and up to race in the Grand National Division, allowing Logano to compete in the series. He finished the 2007 Grand National season with 13 starts in Camping World East Series, winning 5 races, 3 poles, 10 Top 5's, and 10 Top 10's, and winning the championship with wins at Greenville-Pickens Speedway
, Iowa Speedway
, two wins at New Hampshire International Speedway
, and Adirondack International Speedway. He also has made 1 NASCAR West Series start at Phoenix International Raceway
, where he started 2nd and won in the #10 Joe Gibbs Driven Toyota. On October 20, 2007, Logano won the Toyota All-Star Showdown
at Irwindale Speedway
, leading 87 laps and held off Peyton Sellers
for the win.
On May 4, 2008, Logano won the Carolina 500 during his ARCA RE/MAX Series
debut with Venturini Motorsports in racing's return to Rockingham Speedway. Logano also made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
debut, at Talladega
, in the Mountain Dew 250, starting 6th and finishing 26th. It has been his only start to date in the Truck Series. Logano attempted to defend his Toyota All-Star Showdown
title he won in the 2007 season by driving in the January 2009 race (the 2008 season race), and was disqualified for crashing into Peyton Sellers
in an unsportsmanlike manner on the final lap, in an attempt to win the race.
Logano made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at the Dover International Speedway
in the 2008 Heluva Good! 200.
Logano became the youngest winner in Nationwide history by winning his first major NASCAR series race at the 2008 Meijer 300 in only his third start, previous holder of the achievement was Casey Atwood
On July 10, 2009, Logano won the Dollar General 300 by deciding not to pit unlike his teammate Kyle Busch
who took four tires with twelve laps to go. By leading the pack, the clean air made it easy to beat Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch
by five car lengths making it the first time he won at the racetrack in Chicago. He took his fifth series victory at the Kansas Speedway
after a late race pass over teammate Kyle Busch
. He earned his sixth Nationwide series victory at the Auto Club Speedway. In April 2009 Joey won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Nashville. On July 1st, 2011, he won the Subway Jalapeño 250 at Daytona International Speedway
, making avoiding the last second crash.
On August 25, 2008, Joe Gibbs Racing called a press conference to announce that Logano would drive the #20 Home Depot
Toyota Camry
in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series
. Logano replaced Tony Stewart
who left JGR to drive for his own team, Stewart Haas Racing. Logano was also a candidate for the 2008 Rookie of the Year
award, and was scheduled to make his first Sprint Cup start in the #20 Home Depot car part-time throughout the rest of the 2008 season
, starting at the Richmond
.
On August 28, Hall of Fame Racing
announced that Logano would drive five races in their #96 car during the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. His official debut was in New Hampshire
on September 14, by starting that race, he became the first NASCAR driver to run a cup race that was born in the 90s. On September 5, Joey Logano made his first appearance in a Sprint Cup car at Richmond International Raceway
in the two hour long Friday practice for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Due to Tropical Storm Hanna
, qualifying was rained out. A NASCAR rule states that when qualifying is rained out, the top 43 drivers in owners points are then set for the race. Logano was not in the top 43 in owners points, so he did not get to debut.
Logano is the youngest post-modern-era driver to compete full time in NASCAR's top division (Records show drivers as young as 15 competing in NASCAR. A 2002 rule change mandated that drivers had to be 18 to compete in a national touring series; 16-year-olds can compete in regional divisions such as the Camping World East and a 2010 adjustment allowed 14-year-olds to compete in the Whelen All-American Series).
In 2009, Logano finished 4th in his duel, and would become the youngest driver to ever start in the Daytona 500
, however, he would crash midway through the race. Logano's first three starts in the Sprint Cup Series saw three finishes of 30th place or worse. Las Vegas was his sixth start in the Sprint Cup Series, he finished 13th. In April, Logano finished ninth for his first top-ten finish at Talladega; later that month at Darlington, he led 19 laps late in the race and finished ninth. Logano was the fan vote for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, and finished in 8th place.
On June 28, 2009, Logano won the rain-shortened Lenox Tools 301 at Loudon, New Hampshire, beating 4-time cup champion Jeff Gordon
and former Home Depot #20 driver Tony Stewart
, becoming the youngest winner ever in NASCAR's top racing series at the age of only nineteen years, one month and four days old.
On November 22, 2009 Logano was crowned the official 2009 Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of The Year, having beat out other rookies Scott Speed
and Max Papis
.
Logano won his first Coors Light Pole Award on March 19, 2010 for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
It was rumored that Carl Edwards
would replace Logano in the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry
in 2012, with Greg Zipadelli moving over to Stewart-Haas Racing to become Tony Stewart
's crew chief once again. However, Roush Fenway Racing announced the week before the summer Pocono race that Edwards had signed a contract extension to drive the #99 Aflac Ford, meaning Logano should remain at JGR for 2012.
Randy LaJoie
Randall LaJoie was a driver in the NASCAR Busch Series , where he is a two-time champion. Presently, he does not have a full-time ride. He is the father of racers Casey and Corey LaJoie.-Early racing career:LaJoie started racing go-karts when he was 12 years old...
, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stock car
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
race car driver who currently drives the #20 Home Depot
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain...
Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
in the Sprint Cup Series and the #20 GameStop
GameStop
GameStop Corporation is an American video game and entertainment software retailer. The company, whose headquarters is in Grapevine, Texas, United States, operates 6,500 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New...
/Sport Clips
Sport Clips
Sport Clips is a chain of male-oriented haircut salons based in Georgetown, Texas, United States. As of 2011, it operates approximately 800 franchised stores....
Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing is a group of NASCAR racing teams owned and operated by former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who first started racing on the NASCAR circuit in 1991, and J. D. Gibbs, his son...
.
Logano's first major NASCAR win came during the Meijer 300
Meijer 300
The Feed the Children 300 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, United States. The distance of the race is 300 miles .-History:...
at Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Jerry Carroll, who, along with four other investors, owned...
in just his third start in the 2008 Nationwide Series
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
The 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series began on February 16, 2008, at Daytona International Speedway with the Camping World 300, and ended on November 15, 2008, at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 300. This was the first season in which NASCAR's second-tier series was known as the Nationwide...
. Logano made history becoming the youngest driver to win a Nationwide Series race at old. The previous youngest was Casey Atwood
Casey Atwood
Casey Lee Atwood is an American race car driver. Atwood is currently a free agent in NASCAR. He married his longtime girlfriend, Laura, in 2005. Atwood and Laura have two daughters, Kaylee and Emma...
in 1999 at . Logano became the youngest winner in Sprint Cup Series history when he won the 2009
2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 61st season of professional stock car racing in the United States, which began at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, with the 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, a race for the top six teams of the four brands in the 2008...
Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway at . The previous youngest was teammate Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
in 2005 at . Logano is now the youngest winner in two of NASCAR'S three top divisions. Logano is also the first NASCAR driver to be born in the 1990s to compete in NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
's three major divisions.
Early racing career
Logano is the youngest child, born into a tight-knit Italian-American family. He began his racing career in 1996 as a 6-year-old quarter midget racer living in ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. In 1997 Logano won his first Eastern Grand National Championship in the Jr. Stock Car Division. He followed it up with a Jr. Honda Division Championship in 1998 and in early 1999 a Lt. Mod.
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
Division Championship. Later in 1999 Logano won 3 New England Regional Championships in the Sr. Stock, Lt. Mod., Lt. B. divisions.
Logano's family then moved to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The transaction allowed Logano to win a Bandolero Bandits Series Championship. At age 10 he went on to racing Legend cars, where he set a 14-consecutive winning streak track record at the Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
, along with a Lions National Championship. At age 12, Logano won the Southeast-based Pro Legends National championship. Afterwards he spent a couple years racing various forms of pavement Late Model racing.
Veteran NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Mark Martin, who was driving for Jack Roush(Roush Fenway Racing) at the time, called Joey Logano "the real deal". When Logano was 15, Martin said "I am high on Joey Logano because I am absolutely, 100-percent positive, without a doubt that he can be one of the greatest that ever raced in NASCAR. I'm positive. There's no doubt in mind."
In 2005, he ran in 1 FASCAR Pro Truck Series
FASCAR Pro Truck and Sportsman Series
The FASCAR Pro Truck and Sportman Series is a pickup truck racing series that takes place in the Florida area. It was established by the Florida Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing organization as a developmental "stepping stone" for locals with an interest in stock car racing...
race at the New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Speedway is an asphalt track that is 0.48 of a mile in length, located near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, that races Florida Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing stock cars every Saturday night. It also has a smaller track, known as "Little New Smyrna Speedway" in the infield...
, started 1st and finished 2nd. He raced in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
CARS Pro Cup Series is a stock car auto racing series in the United States. It is sanctioned by the Championship Auto Racing Series. The series races throughout the United States primarily on short tracks.-History:The sanctioning body was formed by Hooters owner Robert Brooks...
, competing seven times in the Northern Division, and winning once at Mansfield, two Southern Division races, and five Championship Series races. The following season, he continued racing in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. He raced in twelve Southern Division races, winning twice at South Georgia Motorsports Park and at USA International Speedway. He ran in one USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Northern Division race and six Championship Series races.
Greenville-Pickens Speedway
Greenville-Pickens Speedway is a race track located in Pickens County, South Carolina, just west of Greenville, South Carolina, USA, and just east of Easley, South Carolina. The track hosts weekly NASCAR sanctioned races. Several touring series visit the track each year, including the Whelen...
, Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond International Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful...
, two wins at New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
, and Adirondack International Speedway. He also has made 1 NASCAR West Series start at Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
, where he started 2nd and won in the #10 Joe Gibbs Driven Toyota. On October 20, 2007, Logano won the Toyota All-Star Showdown
Toyota All-Star Showdown
The Toyota All-Star Showdown is a nonpoints, all-star race that brings together the top drivers in NASCAR's lower-level series.It was inaugurated in 2003, and all six events so far have been held at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in suburban Los Angeles...
at Irwindale Speedway
Irwindale Speedway
Toyota Speedway at Irwindale is a motorsports facility located in Irwindale, California, United States. It features banked, paved 1/2- and 1/3-mile oval tracks and a 1/8-mile drag strip. It opened on March 27, 1999, as Irwindale Speedway and held that name until Toyota purchased the naming rights...
, leading 87 laps and held off Peyton Sellers
Peyton Sellers
Peyton Sellers is an American race car driver, competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He won the 2005 national championship of NASCAR's Weekly Racing Series. He is currently driving the #25 Chevrolet for Sellers Racing.-Racing career:Sellers started his racing career in karting, beginning at...
for the win.
On May 4, 2008, Logano won the Carolina 500 during his ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
debut with Venturini Motorsports in racing's return to Rockingham Speedway. Logano also made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
debut, at Talladega
Talladega
Talladega can have multiple uses:*Talladega, Alabama, a city in northern Alabama, USA*Talladega County, Alabama, which has the city of Talladega as its seat*Talladega National Forest in Alabama...
, in the Mountain Dew 250, starting 6th and finishing 26th. It has been his only start to date in the Truck Series. Logano attempted to defend his Toyota All-Star Showdown
Toyota All-Star Showdown
The Toyota All-Star Showdown is a nonpoints, all-star race that brings together the top drivers in NASCAR's lower-level series.It was inaugurated in 2003, and all six events so far have been held at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in suburban Los Angeles...
title he won in the 2007 season by driving in the January 2009 race (the 2008 season race), and was disqualified for crashing into Peyton Sellers
Peyton Sellers
Peyton Sellers is an American race car driver, competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He won the 2005 national championship of NASCAR's Weekly Racing Series. He is currently driving the #25 Chevrolet for Sellers Racing.-Racing career:Sellers started his racing career in karting, beginning at...
in an unsportsmanlike manner on the final lap, in an attempt to win the race.
Nationwide Series career
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
in the 2008 Heluva Good! 200.
Logano became the youngest winner in Nationwide history by winning his first major NASCAR series race at the 2008 Meijer 300 in only his third start, previous holder of the achievement was Casey Atwood
Casey Atwood
Casey Lee Atwood is an American race car driver. Atwood is currently a free agent in NASCAR. He married his longtime girlfriend, Laura, in 2005. Atwood and Laura have two daughters, Kaylee and Emma...
On July 10, 2009, Logano won the Dollar General 300 by deciding not to pit unlike his teammate Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
who took four tires with twelve laps to go. By leading the pack, the clean air made it easy to beat Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
by five car lengths making it the first time he won at the racetrack in Chicago. He took his fifth series victory at the Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
after a late race pass over teammate Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
. He earned his sixth Nationwide series victory at the Auto Club Speedway. In April 2009 Joey won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Nashville. On July 1st, 2011, he won the Subway Jalapeño 250 at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, making avoiding the last second crash.
Sprint Cup Series career
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain...
Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series
2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 61st season of professional stock car racing in the United States, which began at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, with the 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, a race for the top six teams of the four brands in the 2008...
. Logano replaced Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
who left JGR to drive for his own team, Stewart Haas Racing. Logano was also a candidate for the 2008 Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
award, and was scheduled to make his first Sprint Cup start in the #20 Home Depot car part-time throughout the rest of the 2008 season
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season began on February 9, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout, followed by pole qualifying on Sunday, February 10, 2008 for the 50th Daytona 500 on February 17...
, starting at the Richmond
2008 Chevy Rock & Roll 400
The 2008 Chevy Rock & Roll 400, was the twenty-sixth race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, but more important, served as the final "regular season" race before the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup, where the top twelve drivers were "locked into" the ten-race playoff...
.
On August 28, Hall of Fame Racing
Hall of Fame Racing
Hall of Fame Racing was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing team principally owned by Jeff Moorad, Tom Garfinkel, and Tom Davin. The team was created as a joint venture between former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman...
announced that Logano would drive five races in their #96 car during the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. His official debut was in New Hampshire
2008 Sylvania 300
The 2008 Sylvania 300 was the twenty-seventh race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and race one of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The 300-lap, race was held on September 14 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire...
on September 14, by starting that race, he became the first NASCAR driver to run a cup race that was born in the 90s. On September 5, Joey Logano made his first appearance in a Sprint Cup car at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
in the two hour long Friday practice for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Due to Tropical Storm Hanna
Tropical Storm Hanna
- Atlantic storms :* 1959's Hurricane Hannah - a strong hurricane that was only a threat to shipping.* Tropical Storm Hanna – a storm that made landfall in the United States....
, qualifying was rained out. A NASCAR rule states that when qualifying is rained out, the top 43 drivers in owners points are then set for the race. Logano was not in the top 43 in owners points, so he did not get to debut.
Logano is the youngest post-modern-era driver to compete full time in NASCAR's top division (Records show drivers as young as 15 competing in NASCAR. A 2002 rule change mandated that drivers had to be 18 to compete in a national touring series; 16-year-olds can compete in regional divisions such as the Camping World East and a 2010 adjustment allowed 14-year-olds to compete in the Whelen All-American Series).
In 2009, Logano finished 4th in his duel, and would become the youngest driver to ever start in the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, however, he would crash midway through the race. Logano's first three starts in the Sprint Cup Series saw three finishes of 30th place or worse. Las Vegas was his sixth start in the Sprint Cup Series, he finished 13th. In April, Logano finished ninth for his first top-ten finish at Talladega; later that month at Darlington, he led 19 laps late in the race and finished ninth. Logano was the fan vote for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, and finished in 8th place.
On June 28, 2009, Logano won the rain-shortened Lenox Tools 301 at Loudon, New Hampshire, beating 4-time cup champion Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
and former Home Depot #20 driver Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
, becoming the youngest winner ever in NASCAR's top racing series at the age of only nineteen years, one month and four days old.
On November 22, 2009 Logano was crowned the official 2009 Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of The Year, having beat out other rookies Scott Speed
Scott Speed
Scott Andrew Speed is an American race car driver. Formerly a driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team, he made his Formula One race debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix; becoming the first American to race in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993...
and Max Papis
Max Papis
Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi...
.
Logano won his first Coors Light Pole Award on March 19, 2010 for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
It was rumored that Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards
Carl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
would replace Logano in the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
in 2012, with Greg Zipadelli moving over to Stewart-Haas Racing to become Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
's crew chief once again. However, Roush Fenway Racing announced the week before the summer Pocono race that Edwards had signed a contract extension to drive the #99 Aflac Ford, meaning Logano should remain at JGR for 2012.