The 18-year-old developmental driver for Joe Gibbs Racing has been touted as NASCAR's "Next Big Thing" ever since Mark Martin pegged him as the future of the sport a few years ago. He couldn't shave, or vote but Logano already had the tools that made him a top prospect.
Logano makes his debut Saturday in the Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway.
He's won races at every level and already there's talk he can win in the No. 20 Toyota in his very first race. There's a lot of hype for the new kid on the track, and so far Logano has handled the pressure like a real veteran.
"Yeah, there's a little bit of pressure, but we're all here for a certain reason," Logano said Friday. "We're all here to go out and win races and do the best that we can. Whether (the media) puts all of the hype on me or whatever, it doesn't really make that big of a difference. Once we go green, it doesn't really make a difference anymore."
Logano was eligible to drive once he turned 18 last week, and JGR immediately put him to work. He's scheduled to run about 18 Nationwide races this year and might be positioned to make the move to the Sprint Cup Series if JGR expands to a four-car team as early as next season.
Having the top car and equipment should help calm Logano's first race jitters. The No. 20 leads the Nationwide Series in owner points and has won six races in 13 starts this season with Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart behind the wheel.
"He knows he's in good stuff, and that's half the battle right there," Stewart said. "This is a situation where you know what you're getting into and all you've got to do is do your job. If anything, I think it would make him relax a little bit."
Hamlin said a top 10 finish was realistic.
"He's definitely stepping into a good situation," he said. "He's got a great team."
And if he doesn't finish strong?
"It's a long career, and panic shouldn't set in," Cup driver Jeff Burton said.
Logano won the 2007 Grand National title with five wins in 13 starts and won in his only NASCAR West Series start. Last October, Logano led 87 laps at Irwindale Speedway to beat many of NASCAR's top developmental drivers in the Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Now he gets to show what he can do against drivers such as Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne in the 200-mile race.
"I think it will be fine," Logano said. "I'm going to race everyone the way I want to be raced, and hopefully everyone does the same thing."
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CREW CHANGES: One of the harshest penalties in NASCAR history led to crew chief changes this weekend at Haas-CNC Motorsports.
Crew chiefs Robert "Bootie" Barker and Dave Skog and car chiefs Derick Jennings and Thomas Harris will begin their suspensions for tampering with their Chevrolets' rear wings last weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Team competition director Matt Borland will replace Barker as crew chief of Scott Riggs' No. 66, and Steve Genenbacher will replace Skog as crew chief of the No. 70, which failed to qualify Friday.
The team personnel were suspended for six weeks for violating rules with the wing mounting locations. The crew chiefs also were fined $100,000, while the drivers and teams were penalized 150 points.
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FOR SALE? Could Bruton Smith be making a move to buy Dover International Speedway?
Mario Cibelli, the manager of the largest outside shareholder of Dover Motorsports Inc., on Thursday sent a letter to the board of directors urging the company to sell its racing properties. Cibelli wrote that Smith's purchases of tracks in Kentucky and New Hampshire mean it could be the perfect time to sell, possibly to Speedway Motorsports Inc.
"The days of the independent NASCAR track owners have all but passed," Cibelli wrote. "Dover Motorsports will never be able to achieve the operating performance of International Speedway Corporation and Speedway Motorsports Inc. The combined strength of the industry leaders leaves the company at a permanent competitive disadvantage in regards to sponsorship dollars, operating margins and infrastructure."
Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover Motorsports, declined comment on the letter. Earlier this week, he said there are routinely offers for the 1-mile track. He said he didn't expect the Sprint Cup Series to desert Dover, even if the concrete mile were sold.
Smith would like to purchase another track and move a date to Kentucky. The owners of Pocono Raceway said this week their track was not for sale.
Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon said he'd rather see Pocono get the boot than Dover. He called Pocono "outdated" and that the track needed "a ton of upgrades."
"I'm shocked that they've had two races for as long as they've had," he said. "I'd be surprised if it stayed that way in the future."
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FRANCHITTI'S COMEBACK: More than a month after a broken ankle forced him out of action, Dario Franchitti returned to practice for Saturday's Nationwide Series race. Although he tested two days this week at Pocono Raceway, this was the first time he got to prepare for a race. He decided not to wear his protective brace.
"I'm sure after Saturday night, it'll be a little sore, but it's really working well," Franchitti said.
He will not drive in Sunday's Cup race.
Milan join Flamini race
Valvoline workers ready for blue Friday
Logano ready for NASCAR debut
