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Joey Logano
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Joseph "Joey" Logano (born May 24, 1990 in Middletown, Connecticut) nicknamed "sliced bread" by Randy LaJoie, is an American race car driver who currently drives the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series and the #20 GameStop Toyota Camry in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Logano's first major NASCAR win came during the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway in just his third start in the 2008 Nationwide Series. Logano made history becoming the youngest driver to win a Nationwide Series race at 18 years, 21 days old.
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Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joey" Logano (born May 24, 1990 in Middletown, Connecticut) nicknamed "sliced bread" by Randy LaJoie, is an American race car driver who currently drives the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series and the #20 GameStop Toyota Camry in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Logano's first major NASCAR win came during the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway in just his third start in the 2008 Nationwide Series. Logano made history becoming the youngest driver to win a Nationwide Series race at 18 years, 21 days old. The previous youngest was Casey Atwood in 1999 at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days.
Racing career
Early racing career
Logano began his racing career in 1996 as a 6-year-old quarter midget racer living in Connecticut. In 1997 Logano won his first Eastern Grand National Championship in the Jr. Stock Car Division. He followed it up with a Jr. Honda Division Championship in 1998 and in early 1999 a Lt. Mod. Division Championship. Later in 1999 Logano won 3 New England Regional Championships in the Sr. Stock, Lt. Mod., Lt. B. divisions.
Logano's family was then relocated in Georgia, to help better his sister's figure skating career. The transaction allowed Logano to win a Bandolero Bandits Series Championship. At age 10 he went on to racing Legend cars, where he set a 14-consecutive winning streak track record at Atlanta Motor Speedway, along with a Lions National Championship. At age 12, Logano won the Southeast-based Pro Legends National championship. Afterwards he spent a couple years racing various forms of pavement Late Model racing.
Veteran NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Mark Martin, who was driving for Roush at the time, called Joey Logano "the real deal". When Logano was 15, Martin said "I am high on Joey Logano because I am absolutely, 100-percent positive, without a doubt that he can be one of the greatest that ever raced in NASCAR. I'm positive. There's no doubt in mind."
In 2005, he ran in 1 FASCAR Pro Truck Series race at New Smyrna Speedway, started 1st and finished 2nd. He raced in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, competing seven times in the Northern Division, and winning once at Mansfield, two Southern Division races, and five Championship Series races. The following season, he continued racing in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. He raced in twelve Southern Division races, winning twice at South Georgia Motorsports Park and at USA International Speedway. He ran in one USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Northern Division race and six Championship Series races.
In 2007, a new NASCAR rule allowed drivers 16 and up to race in the Grand National Division, allowing Logano to compete in the series. He finished the 2007 Grand National season with 13 starts in Camping World East Series, winning 5 races, 3 poles, 10 Top 5's, and 10 Top 10's, and winning the championship with wins at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Iowa Speedway, two wins at New Hampshire International Speedway, and Adirondack International Speedway. He also has made 1 NASCAR West Series start, started 2nd and won. On October 20, 2007, Logano won the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway, leading 87 laps and held off Peyton Sellers for the win.
On May 4, 2008, Logano won the Carolina 500 during his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut with Venturini Motorsports in racing's return to Rockingham Speedway.
In 2008 Logano has also made his Nascar Craftsman Truck Series debut, at Talladega, in the Mountain Dew 250, starting 6th and finishing 26th. It has been his only start to date in the Truck Series.
Logano attempted to defend his Toyota All-Star Showdown title won in the 2007 season in January 2009 (the 2008 season race), and was disqualified for crashing into Peyton Sellers in an unsportsmanlike manner on the final lap in an attempt to win the race.
Nationwide Series career
Logano's 18th birthday on May 24, 2008, made him eligible to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He made his Nationwide debut at Dover International Speedway in the 2008 Heluva Good! 200 with a 6th place finish. In his first three races in the Nationwide Series, Logano won the pole position, at Nashville and Kentucky.
On June 14, 2008, Logano won the 2008 Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. It was his first Nationwide Series win in only his third start, becoming the youngest winner in Nationwide history beating the record that was then held by Casey Atwood by 9 months.
Logano had to sit out a few races races due to sponsorship commitments from his team that required them running Tony Stewart in the #20 car. Also because NASCAR had to authorize the 18-year-old to compete on the big ovals such as Daytona International Speedway. Logano returned to the #20 for the Gateway event and has continued to run the rest of the schedule.
Logano will drive an ARCA race at Talladega to gain NASCAR's approval to run on the superspeedways.
Sprint Cup Series career
On August 25, 2008, Joe Gibbs Racing called a press conference to announce that Logano will drive the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series. Logano replaced Tony Stewart who left JGR to drive for his own team Stewart Haas Racing. Logano will also be a candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. Logano was scheduled to make his first Sprint Cup start in the #20 Home Depot car part-time throughout the rest of the 2008 season, starting at Richmond.
On August 28, 2008, Hall of Fame Racing announced that Logano would drive five races in their #96 car during the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. His official debut was in the New Hampshire on September 14.
On September 5, 2008, Joey Logano made his first appearance in a Sprint Cup car at Richmond International Raceway in the two hour long Friday practice for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Unfortunately due to Tropical Storm Hanna qualifying was rained out & as the #02 was not in the top 35 in owner's points, Logano did not get to debut. Logano is the youngest modern-era driver to compete in NASCAR's top division.
In 2009, he would become the youngest driver to ever start the Daytona 500, however, he would crash midway through the race.
Logano's first three starts in the Sprint Cup Series saw three finishes of 30th place or worse.
At Las Vegas in his sixth start in the Sprint Cup Series, Joey posted his best finish by finishing 13th
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