Logano Ready for Debut

[Schwartz Fan]

Logano Ready for Debut

Pete Pistone
Managing Editor Posted Wednesday, May 28, 2008




The long-awaited Nationwide Series debut finally comes for highly-touted Joey Logano who turns 18 this weekend and makes his first series start Saturday at Dover International Speedway.

The young driver, who was called the "Real Deal" by Mark Martin when he was only 14-years-old, will pilot one of the powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing cars in Saturday's trip to "The Monster Mile."

Logano has been around the world of racing his entire life so making the step up to one of NASCAR's top divisions is something he's always dreamed about.

“I would rather drive race cars, for sure," he said. "But I still think I’m just your average Joe and a typical teenager despite all this stuff. I’m a racer. I wouldn’t do anything different, ever, in my life. I wouldn’t trade this for anything."

"All my friends are the same way. Racing is their life and that’s the same way for me. A lot of people don’t realize how much work it really is, but I’m having a blast and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this, and I finally get to make my Nationwide Series debut at Dover."

Despite being the tender age of 18, Logano believes he has enough experience already to make the move up the racing ladder.


“A lot of the guys start so young, now. I started racing when I was six years old," Logano said. "Years ago, people didn’t start racing until they were 16. I’m 18 and I’ve been racing for 12 years now. I feel that’s where it’s different, but if you look at all sports, they’re getting younger and younger. Joe Gibbs Racing thinks I’m ready and I believe I’m ready.”

However racing in Legends cars, weekly late models, Hooters Pro Cup and the Camping World Series is a far cry from jumping into a Nationwide car against some of the best drivers in the world.

Logano is ready for the challenge.

“It’s the same thing. It’s just bigger, better and a tougher challenge," he said. "You have more guys and bigger tracks. That’s going to be the biggest difference. It’s still a race car with four tires and a steering wheel. You have to be confident. If you’re not confident, then you’re kind of wasting your time."

"There’s a line between confident and cocky. You definitely have to be confident going into any kind of sport like that. It’s a head game. I think you have to be confident to do this. At the same time, I know I’m stepping in great equipment and I have an excellent team that has already won six races this season."

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