Logano’s First Year is in the Books - Part Two
November 30, 2009The book was closed on the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22 and The Home Depot Racing driver Joey Logano was officially crowned NASCAR's 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, Nov. 24. This is the second part of the two-part series recapping the highlights of Logano's rookie campaign in Sprint Cup Series Racing.
Leading the Southern 500 at Darlington. Logano scored his first career top-10 finish in NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing at Talladega but his performance in the oldest race on the circuit at NASCAR's toughest track is what grabbed the attention of the NASCAR community. After starting from the fifth position Logano was a consistent presence in the top 10 and led 19 laps of the race before settling for a ninth-place finish. It was an impressive performance at a track notorious for its difficulty.
Battling Jeff Gordon in the closing laps of the race in Charlotte. Every NASCAR driver has his own heroes and Jeff Gordon was one of Logano's favorite drivers growing up. Logano had raced Gordon during various races throughout the 2009 season but it was the closing laps of the Charlotte race in October that created a lasting impression. Logano had run strong throughout the race and battled back from an early miscue on pit road to race into the top 10. He cracked the top five with less than 10 laps remaining and spent the remaining laps battling door-to-door with Gordon for the fourth position. Logano eventually settled for a fifth-place finish but it was an opening statement for Logano's quest to make Charlotte Motor Speedway "HIS" house.
Joey Logano Day in Middletown, Connecticut. Logano has spent the majority of his racing career in the south but he was born in the northeast in Middletown, Connecticut. Logano spent his early years in his hometown growing an affinity for fast cars. In September, Logano returned to his hometown to have his accomplishments celebrated during an appearance at the local The Home Depot. Thousands of fans showed up to show their support for the hometown hero and the mayor presented Logano with a key to the city.
The win at New Hampshire. The Home Depot has been in the sport since it started sponsoring the No. 20 car at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 1999 with a guy who was a rookie at the time, Tony Stewart. The Home Depot and No. 20 JGR Team enjoyed the spoils of going to victory lane on a yearly basis. Logano continued that tradition for The Home Depot and No. 20 JGR Team on June 28 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The win involved a little bit of pit strategy by crew chief Greg Zipadelli and some fuel conservation on Logano's part but the end result was a trip to victory lane – the 11th straight year with a win for The Home Depot and the No. 20 JGR Team.
Making his Mark. Logano broke several records this season including becoming the youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner in Sprint Cup Series history, as well as becoming the youngest Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year. At just 19 years of age, Logano's record breaking feats will be difficult to break.
