Once again the rains came, and just like in Reutimann’s case back in May during the Coca-Cola 600, Mother Nature would be very gracious at giving another driver his very first win under her conditions, since after all a win is a win no matter how you get it. “I mean, yeah, we got lucky, obviously. The rain came just at the right time. But yeah, it’s cool. A win’s a win in my book any way you look at it.” Logano said during his post race press conference.

· The Date: January 24th, 2009.

· The Race: 6th annual Toyota All-Star Showdown

· The Race Track: Toyota Speedway of Irwindale

· The Division: Camping World Series

Friday nights qualifying got rained out, along with most of the qualifying sessions that were supposed to take place. It was on Saturday afternoon that Mother Nature gave the track her blessings, and held back her tears of destruction allowing the teams to qualify for the night’s main event. This was all it took to get the crowd of about 5,000 to shake off the last of the rain drops that blanketed the grandstands, and settle in for what would be one of Irwindales most memorable nights of racing. As the National Anthem played, and the fireworks filled the cloudy rain soaked sky, little did the fans know that the biggest firework show was only a couple of hours away!!

After the green flag dropped, it didn’t take long for the drivers to begin to play bumper cars, and get stingy with the small amount of real estate that this half mile track had to offer. Lap after lap the drivers bumped, and battled their way underneath a cloudy sky that looked more menacing, then watching the late Dale Earnhardt Sr coming up in your rear view mirror. One by one, the track continued to gobble up driver after driver, never realizing that the big show, the grand finale, and most controversial wreck of the night would take place while coming around the final corner on the last lap. With only 6 laps left in the race, it would be Bowles, and Kobyluck pinching Sellers into Logano, which in turn would cause Logano to mildly scrape the turn three wall.

This move was the prelude to the exciting finish, which would take place in just a few short minutes. As the white flag waved, Sellers was leading the race heading into turn three. It was then that Logano, who had a run on Sellers, came from the bottom apron and pounded into Sellers drivers’ side door, knocking him into the wall just a few feet short from his first All-Star win. Sellers in turn would catch Bowles, and Logano would cross the stripe inches ahead of 2006 winner, Matt Kobyluck. Sellers in a fit of rage, would catch Logano on the front straight, and have a few words with him as NASCAR was still trying to sort out what exactly happened. It didn’t take NASCAR long to make the announcement that Logano was penalized for aggressive driving, and the win was handed over to second place finisher Matt Kobyluck.

· The Date: June 28th, 2009

· The Race: Lenox Industrial Tools 301

· The Track: New Hampshire Motor speedway

· The Division: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

What a difference 5 months has made since Logano’s meltdown during the All-Star Showdown earlier in the year. When you begin to take a very short walk down memory lane, it’s not hard to see just how much Logano has matured during this time span. Logano at the age of 19 years-35 days, was able to overcome a crash, a lost lap, get the lucky dog, and then had enough sense to listen to his crew chief to save just enough fuel to become the youngest driver a Sprint Cup race.

After winning 82 races of his own, Jeff Gordon knows that you take a win anyway that you can get it, and even if it means sitting on pit road watching the rain fall while waiting anxiously for NASCAR to call the race. “I’ve won a bunch of races in this series and I’ve been very fortunate to do it at times by having the best car, the best pit stops. You know, sometimes I can say that I out drove the guys. But there are plenty of those wins that came because of a two tire stop, gas and go, rain shortened a lot of different ways. I’ll take them any way I can get them, that’s for sure.” Joey has chosen a very hard sport to excel in, especially when you take into account his age and the fact that he is up against some of the best drivers in the world.

Joey knows that each race is a learning experience with lessons that can only be taught while sitting behind the wheel. Usually the dividing line is just how well a driver can bounce back, while at the same time continuing to keep his focus without any further distractions. Its hard enough to win a race at this very competitive level, but to have the mindset to know when to be at the right place at the right time, is another area that Logano’s is slowly maturing at. Wins such as this one that was called because of rain, have always been a part of the sport ever since the very beginning of the series back some 60+ years ago. So why should it come as any kind of a surprise when rain has, and always be the biggest reason for a race being cancelled or shortened?

Until NASCAR can figure out a way to put a dome over the track, the ruling will always be at NASCAR’s discretion. So how can anyone discredit this young driver when all he did, is do what he was told by his crew chief Greg Zipadelli? “He told me I had about five laps on the green left, unless he was lying, but that’s just what he told me. So I was coasting as long as I can, shutting the motor off and Jeff was going to make me fire that thing up and burn as much as fuel as I can. But besides that, Zippy told me what to do and I just kept doing it.”

“Yeah, this is so special. I think your first win no matter where it’s at is huge. Obviously it’s not the way you want to win your first race, in the rain, but 20 years down the road when you look in the record books, no one will know the difference.” After hearing these words from a very excited Logano, you already know that many more wins will most likely be coming his way. Im Out