The Media Conference. As par for the course this year, this was one of the most non-secret secrets in NASCAR for 2008.
Joe Gibbs Racing officially presented driver Joey Logano as the replacement for Tony Stewart in their #20 car. Home Depot will continue to be the sponsor on this car for 2009 and beyond.
Both JD Gibbs and Joe Gibbs said this is a "multi-year" deal for Logano (Coach did jest that it would be 20 years) and Joey personally signed his life away to JGR since he is now 18. JD Gibbs also announced that Logano WILL have his Cup debut at Richmond in the #02 car with Home Depot sponsorship and will drive the same Cup car at Atlanta. There are other races in the works, but no further dates were given. JD Gibbs also said that Logano will be running in the ARCA series at Talladega this year.
The question was asked if Logano will continue driving in the Nationwide series next year, and of course the answer was "Yes."
Just some of my thoughts as follow-up. Number one, I wonder what Smoke will be thinking next year when he sees that old, familiar #20 car passing him. Number two, I wonder if, in fact, NASCAR decided not to raise the minimum age to 21 because of Logano.
No matter what the answer is to those two questions, I just want to say good luck to Joey Logano in his NASCAR career. I suspect we will all witness greatness. We might even see him give Kyle Busch a run for his money.
Yep, it was Payback Time (ala Carl Edwards on Shrub) to RI for deleting my comments in one of his old blogs.
If I ever get near Logano, of course I'll get an autograph for you. But Lori, I have one sister and one sister only and she lives in Seattle. Of course never would think to get someone's autograph for her.
I think this is a great opportunity for Logano. Only one problem. I will have to take Smokes name off my Home Depot jacket and put Loganos on. Any body know how to sew?
Last edited by photogr on August 25th at 12:33 PM.
It's going to be interesting to see what Logano can do with the Cup boys, he's fit in well in the Nationwide Series but the Cup Series is completely different... nice write lori :)
Tyler ~ It will be interesting. I've said before that he may not come out of the gate smokin (no pun intended) the competition, but if he uses his head, which Zippy will make sure of, he'll be just fine. David Ragan comes to mind as an example.
I don't think Logano is ready to move up to Sprint Cup, yet. He should run another full year in N'wide. There are several young and experienced Cup drivers who would do well in the 20 car right away. Juan-Pablo Montoya is ready to really do well if he can get a 1st class car. I thought he would be a good choice for the 20 car. I guess the coach knows best.
Last edited by '55CrownVic on August 25th at 1:55 PM.
Broomy - point taken. However, I think it was obvious during the press conference that JGR was able to sell Logano to Home Depot and keep that sponsorship, for a long time as well. Second, Logano has been with JGR for 3 years and has done very well in the races and testing. Thirdly, they said that everyone inside their organization approved of this choice, and it was a clear-cut decision. Lastly, as Coach said, Zippy is the glue that holds that team together and Logano is getting the chance to work with a winning crew chief in some of the best equipment.
Now, I know there are other guys out there, but it seems to me JGR made a great business decision going with Logano who will be able to drive with that organization for a long, long time. Maybe Home Depot wasn't sold on any of the other choices????
Don't you sort of wonder if Smoke may have not seen the handwriting on the wall with JG racing becoming a young driver team with Kyle and Denny and Smoke wasn't their number one driver any more and Joey was far more than just a blip on the horizon. Maybe half ownership of a team to end your career a few years down the road might be better than being fired at some point within a year.
I think Smoke knew his time at JG was limited at best.
Have to disagree with you 100%, however. Gibbs tried to keep Tony, they've both said that. Gibbs' hand was forced to find a replacement. I think that IF Smoke would have stayed, JGR would have started up a 4th team for Joey. NASCAR allows the teams 4 cars, so that would have been the best option.
While I think Logano will be terrific in Cup, I have some reservations about rushing him into the Cup series. Give him a full season in Nationwide to cut his teeth, and continue to run a limited Cup schedule for him until 2010.
While I worry Sliced Bread might have some growing pains, he has had more seat time in the COT than most of the current drivers doing tests for Gibbs. Now he just has to take that knowledge and use it with 42 other cars around him. He'll be ok I think!
Now Tony...oy! He is going to be crab-o-licious in the garages next year if he is back there racing with Broomy's field fillers! LOL
Lori I can work on Cale's and Joey's autographs for you too...
I'm sure you know better than I but someone wrote a blog last week about the guys who were the cat's meow and are starting to not win so much anymore. Just a guess.
Nobody seems to think Stewart is going to do much with the new team.
It's kind of like when Barry Switzer left OU. Everyone said that OU Footbal would fall apart. Well, it took them some time to find the right coach, but once they hired Bob Stoops, it didn't take long for OU to get back to being a football powerhouse.
Things may be slow going for Tony Stewart next year, but once he gets the bugs worked out and the right people in the right places, Tony will be back in Victory Lane.
Will be interesting to see how Logano fares in his rookie year in Cup. At least he'll be getting more seat time in the NW series also, and therefore more familiar with the tracks.
While he does seem rather young to move to Cup...I am thinking some of the commentors are correct in their assessment that Logano will settle in OK.
So which hot shot driver should we be keeping our eye on next, Lori? You seem to have a good eye for the upcoming talent...maybe you could have a second career as a NASCAR talent scout, lol!
Jon ~ it would seem logical to do that. BUT, Coach talked about that during the press conf today and he noted that possibility was discussed with Logano and everyone involved. He stated that Logano was mature about it and gave the appropriate answers that when Coach left the meeting he knew this was the right thing. He also considered what Denny has accomplished and said that the way Denny jumped in there and had success changed his perspective on keeping them in a lower series.
Kristen - totally agree about Logano and testing in the COT. They've talked about that alot and that why Zippy was ok with this decision.
Nique - Hey girl ... I don't think I know more than you, that's not what these blogs are about. I welcome your opinion and hope that you know I was just stating mine as well.
SB - don't you feel like Jr. fans now, having to buy all new gear and stuff? Is that why I'm pulling for Logano so much so that when I wear my 20 stuff, I'll be ok with it?? lol
Sweet Gerrel - you know, that's a good question. I have been following Cale Gale for awhile and think he's on the cusp of greatness as well. Maybe KHI will be able to put him in the seat full time like they want to, I think Harvick said they just haven't been able to "sell" him to a sponsor yet for full time. So, any great companies out there who are reading this ... GO WITH CALE GALE!
Actually Gerrel - I would LOVE to do that for a living. Seriously!
Last edited by HotfootLori on August 25th at 8:55 PM.
Lori, he'll be racing with the big boys now. It's not the Camping World East Series or the ARCA Series anymore. While I think he'll be successful eventually, he'll be going through some MAJOR growing pains.
As for Cale Gale, I think Kevin Harvick found a gem. I hope Reese's (or one of Kevin's associate sponsors) steps up and sponsors Gale full-time in the NNS. I think he can win in the NNS and contend for a title eventually.
Lori- Good read. But I still think that he is not ready for the cup series. Just because he has been testing in the cup cars doesnt mean that he is ready. Testing and racing are two different animals.
Think about it? Has he really been that inmpressive in the Nationwide series as compared to Keselowski or even Scott Wimmer? Talent can only get you so far. Seat time is where you get all your experiance. And not just making laps with no one around you. But good quality seat time is in an actual race with drivers of your own caliber. To many good young drivers have come into the cup series and have fallen flat on their faces.
Im not a hater of Joey. But this kid has barely raced in 10 events so far this year in the Nationwide series. A lot of his fans think that he is mature for his age. But what we all tend to forget is that the cup series is full of mature race car drivers that are not going to like this young kid trying to steal the spotlight. These are not your saturday night local boys. Look at how Mikey Waltrip almost got Mark McDowell killed earlier in the season becuase he thought he was ready for the cup series.
As far as Tony. I think he will do good his first season with his new team. Betwwen him and Ryan. If the two can work together. Is should be a really good season for the both of them. Just my opinion.
Last edited by frevr3fan on August 25th at 11:01 PM.
Lori,
I think NASCAR is flat out foolish to let an 18 or 19 year-old driver run for the Cup. Time and again this ends in disaster I think it de####able. That won't make me popular but it's the way I see it. Gibbs just got out of one sport where he went from making very good decisions to making bad ones and with the magnets and Logano that seems to be leaking into his NASCAR legacy...
3fan & Mr. Ed ~ you're allowed to have your reservations, nothing wrong with that.
3fan - It seems you think Joey is somehow going to steal someone's limelight? If you think that, you must also think he's good. Which he is.
Let me just say this ... Let's examine Tony Stewart's career in NASCAR and make a comparison. Shall we?
Nationwide career:
1996 - 9 starts and NO wins
1997 - 5 starts and NO wins
1998 - 22 starts and NO wins
1999 - he moves to Cup.
We both know, Tony has gone on to win 2 championships in the Cup series. He's had 32 wins, 127 top 5's, and 203 top 10's. And, didn't he break some record for the most laps led this year?
Now, back to Joey. Joey has already won in his short time in his first year in NNS, something Tony didn't do in 36 starts. Joey will have approx 19 starts this year in NNS (compared to 22 for Smoke in 1998 his 3rd year in NNS), and Joey will have some Cup starts plus his racing at Dega in the ARCA.
So, was Tony ready for the Cup series even though he hadn't performed well in NNS in 3 years??
Lori- I think that he is alright. He still has a lot of proving to do. He will be in the limelight. But it will have nothing to do with his driving. But instead it will be because the media and NASCAR have done there jobs in marketing him. How many times in the past have I seen this same scenario happen with a young inexperianced driver. To many.
I never wish bad on any driver. But there is no way he is going to take the limelight from Dale Jr, Smoke or even Jeff Gordon even with all the fans that dont like him. If you remember a lot fans didnt like David Ragan last season. He was always crashing into someone. Having single car spinouts. And now look at his popularity. He's doing good and the fans are recognizing it.
Now on the flip side. Where are all the fans that put Juan Montoya on a pedestal last season because he won 2 races last year? The cup drivers are not going to give him his respect next season. That is something that he is going to have to earn. And you dont earn it in one season. Im sure with time yeah he will be good or even great. But for the time being. He is just another driver who in my opinion is coming up way to fast.
Now dont get me wrong I do wish him luck. Because he is going to need a lot of it. Im sure with time he will come into his own. Maybe in a few years we just might see him in the chase. Who knows he just might win his first cup within his first 4 years. Only time will tell. Thanks Lori. I respect the way you stand behind your drivers.
Last edited by frevr3fan on August 26th at 7:56 AM.
3fan - hmmm.. yeah, where are the JPM fans nowadays? lol
I enjoy your comments as always, you know that. Glad we can have a discussion and air our opinions without you calling me names like Kyle Busch did to Carl. LOL
I am a JPM fan and still believe he can drive and will get better. But let face the fact Ganassi Racing does not have top-notch equipment. They are not Petty Enterprises bad, but not good.
Joey will have the benefit of excellent equipment, a great, and underrated crew chief and excellent organization behind him with two other championship quality drivers. He will be fine. I believe he finishes no lower than the top-25 for sure and if I had to be bold, think he will be in the top-18.
Save that as my prediction for next year, FrontPageLori.
Lori- Thanks. That's why I like this site. One recent example of brining up a driver to quick was Mikey Waltrip. He almost killed Mark McDowell bringing him up from the ARCA series. Where is he now? Joe may be a good coach. But once that driver gets behind the wheel not even Zippy can make those quick last second decisions for him. Joey needs to develop at his own pace. Not the media,s. Just my opinion.
Great stuf Lori, Now who was Tony driving for those years in Busch with no wins?
That number 20 Nationwide car has been on rails and any decent driver could have taken it to victory lane. I not saying he has no talent but this is a team sport. Its sad that older drivers have put in the time with low ball teams that can drive if they had a great team but sponsors decide who will drive now?
As for Tony next year he should already be getting the right people in line so there is no lappes in time with him being boss. Knowing Tony he won't be preparing to be passed next year. He knows the first qustion the reporters will be saying. Do you think you made a bad dession leaving Gibbs and going alone.
Cheers
3fan - I think Joey can and will learn and develop at his own pace. Hey! No media here :)
F2 ~ Tony ran 9 Busch races in 1996 for Ranier/Walsh; after that it was all for Joe Gibbs Racing. WITH Zippy I might add :) He also ran the full IRL schedule in 1998 when he ran the 22 Busch races. When he went to Cup in 1999, he won THREE Cup races in his rookie year ... and I was hooked as a fan. Thanks Forensic.
The lovely lady making rounds on the crowd is Queen HotfootLori. She always does her best to satisfy the masses with her meet and greets. Shaking each hand. Smiling at those who bow. But the demands are heavy on our Queen. She must deal with all those that pass throught the kingdom and hear their issues and complaints. She is a patient monarch and will encourage all to strive to be better. Her only failing is that this life calling sometimes strains her inspiration for ruling the land. But she wills herself to continue.
Thanks to Moseby for the intro!!
