Logano eager for first start at Lowe's

Schwartz Fan · 10-09-2008, 11:32 AM

Logano eager for first start at Lowe's

By Amanda Brahler
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

The last time the Nationwide Series raced at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May, Joey Logano was a bystander. At the start of the race weekend, he was too young to compete in NASCAR. By the time the checkered flag waved, he was 18; a week later, he made his series debut in Dover.

Logano's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin finished second in May's Carquest Auto Parts 300, piloting the No. 20 Toyota, a ride Logano has since made his own. Three weeks later, in only his third start, Logano found victory lane in Kentucky. Since then, Logano's expected tear has been slowed a bit, possibly because of his plans in the No. 2 series taking a backseat while he prepares for his 2009 run in the Sprint Cup Series.

"Things got off to a great start, for sure. But over the last several races, I don't know if it's me or what, but I feel like we need to get back on our game a little bit," Logano said.

With a recent Cup test at Lowe's under his belt and fresh off of a second-place finish in the ARCA event last weekend in Talladega, this Friday Logano will make his first start on the 1.5-mile Charlotte-area track, his 15th start overall, in the Dollar General 300. To date, he has 10 top-10 finishes.

"We're all working as hard as we can and the guys have been the absolute greatest all season long," Logano said. "Doug Hewitt's crew chiefing again and I'm really excited about that. We had a weekend off to get ready for this next one. It would be really cool to get my second win at Charlotte. Everyone remembers who wins at Charlotte, so that turns up the intensity a lot.

"I learned quite a bit about the track during the test. I had Denny (Hamlin), Tony (Stewart) and Kyle (Busch) there with me, and they seemed to help me out a lot. I enjoyed the experience a lot. I definitely think we'll be OK there in the Nationwide car. ... There should be some really good racing because you can attack the track from top to bottom."

Notes: James Finch's Phoenix Racing team will run its 500th race on Friday with driver Mike Bliss at the helm. Bliss's one and only Nationwide win fell at Lowe's in the fall of 2004. Phoenix Racing has 11 career wins. ... 24-year-old Brad Keselowski, who sits third in the Nationwide Series point standings for JR Motorsports, will attempt to make his Sprint Cup debut on Saturday, qualifying the No. 25 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. ... Chip Ganassi Racing's 19-year-old rookie driver Bryan Clauson will also eye his first start in Sprint Cup competition as the team resurrects the No. 40.

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10-09-2008, 11:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Schwartz Fan Co-Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The flatlands...Where dirt is for farming, clay is for racin' and asphalt is for gettin there!!! Posts: 7,450	Logano eager for first start at Lowe's Logano eager for first start at Lowe's By Amanda Brahler Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service The last time the Nationwide Series raced at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May, Joey Logano was a bystander. At the start of the race weekend, he was too young to compete in NASCAR. By the time the checkered flag waved, he was 18; a week later, he made his series debut in Dover. Logano's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin finished second in May's Carquest Auto Parts 300, piloting the No. 20 Toyota, a ride Logano has since made his own. Three weeks later, in only his third start, Logano found victory lane in Kentucky. Since then, Logano's expected tear has been slowed a bit, possibly because of his plans in the No. 2 series taking a backseat while he prepares for his 2009 run in the Sprint Cup Series. "Things got off to a great start, for sure. But over the last several races, I don't know if it's me or what, but I feel like we need to get back on our game a little bit," Logano said. With a recent Cup test at Lowe's under his belt and fresh off of a second-place finish in the ARCA event last weekend in Talladega, this Friday Logano will make his first start on the 1.5-mile Charlotte-area track, his 15th start overall, in the Dollar General 300. To date, he has 10 top-10 finishes. "We're all working as hard as we can and the guys have been the absolute greatest all season long," Logano said. "Doug Hewitt's crew chiefing again and I'm really excited about that. We had a weekend off to get ready for this next one. It would be really cool to get my second win at Charlotte. Everyone remembers who wins at Charlotte, so that turns up the intensity a lot. "I learned quite a bit about the track during the test. I had Denny (Hamlin), Tony (Stewart) and Kyle (Busch) there with me, and they seemed to help me out a lot. I enjoyed the experience a lot. I definitely think we'll be OK there in the Nationwide car. ... There should be some really good racing because you can attack the track from top to bottom." Notes: James Finch's Phoenix Racing team will run its 500th race on Friday with driver Mike Bliss at the helm. Bliss's one and only Nationwide win fell at Lowe's in the fall of 2004. Phoenix Racing has 11 career wins. ... 24-year-old Brad Keselowski, who sits third in the Nationwide Series point standings for JR Motorsports, will attempt to make his Sprint Cup debut on Saturday, qualifying the No. 25 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. ... Chip Ganassi Racing's 19-year-old rookie driver Bryan Clauson will also eye his first start in Sprint Cup competition as the team resurrects the No. 40. SportingNews.com - Your expert source for NASCAR Auto Racing stats, scores, standings, blogs and fantasy news from NASCAR Auto Racing columnists __________________

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