January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Racing prodigy awaits Nationwide debut
No one is anticipating his appearance in Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway more than Logano himself, who only became eligible when he turned 18 years old last weekend.
"To get that first start at Dover, thank God, finally - it seems like I've been waiting for 18 years," Logano said. "I'm really, really excited to get in that No. 20 car and see what we can do."
Those close to him, however, including his teammates and car owner at Joe Gibbs Racing and Sprint Cup Series veteran Mark Martin, have been building expectations for years.
As far back as three years ago, when Logano was 15 and under the tutorship of Martin, a budding NASCAR career was already being predicted by none other than Martin himself.
"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," Martin said at the time. "I'm positive. There's no doubt in my mind."
Even though Logano has since moved from Roush Fenway Racing to JGR while participating in his driver development program, Martin's predictions of Logano's success have never waned.
Before beginning his career in NASCAR's biggest series, Logano has already racked up an impressive resume.
He competed extensively in Hooters Pro Cup in 2005 and 2006, winning races, and in his rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World Series East in 2007, he won five races and the series championship. Last fall he added a victory in the Toyota All-Star Showdown in Irwindale, Calif.
Already this season, Logano has been testing extensively with the Gibbs organization and won the Automobile Racing Club of America's debut at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway earlier this month.
As Logano readies for his turn in Gibbs' Nationwide Series cars, JGR's other drivers - Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch - have been amassing impressive stats. Three have won nine of the 13 races so far this season, with eight of the wins coming in Gibbs cars.
"I'm definitely getting in one of the best cars. I would rather be in a car that's winning races and I know can win races rather than a car that's going to run 25th place," Logano said.
"Definitely there's more pressure, but it's a lot better running up front. I would rather run up front than have a good finish being 20th."
JGR president J.D. Gibbs is well aware of the expectations being placed on the newest driver to his NASCAR stable, but is trying to keep it all in perspective.
"This year we're going to do 18 or 19 Nationwide races and probably throw a few ARCA in there. The Cup thing, we're in no hurry, we're just going to watch and wait," Gibbs said. "Eventually he's going to have a spot in this sport for many years to come in the Cup series.
"We're not going to rush him to get there. I think we're just going to let him enjoy what he's doing now and kind of grow. I think when the time is right we'll all be ready to go. ... It's going to take him a little time to get up to speed."
Logano, however, believes he's ready for anything.
"I feel like I'm ready to go out there and win races. I've been waiting on this birthday forever now - I feel like I'm ready. I've done a ton of testing and a ton of races growing up."[[In-content Ad]]
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