RacingNation.com
Home / NASCAR / The Time Is Now For Logano

The Time Is Now For Logano

Concord, NC – Since bursting on the NASCAR scene at the age of 18, Joey Logano was highly touted by none other than Mark Martin, picked up the nickname: “Sliced Bread” and was widely regarded as the next great driver.

After three seasons in the Sprint Cup Series with only one win to his credit and coming off a season where he finished 24th in the final standings, the lowest finish of his career, 2012 may be the last year for Logano to prove himself to Joe Gibbs Racing.

When Tony Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing after the 2008 season, Logano stepped into a team that had recorded 33 wins and captured two championships.

While the team and cars were good, the fit apparently was not.

Crew Chief Greg Zipadelli’s style didn’t mesh with the young driver and although the team picked up a win in the rain shortened Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2010, tension continued to grow in the team.

Zipadelli left at the end of last season to join Stewart-Haas Racing and Jason Ratcliff has moved up from the Nationwide Series to take over crew chief duties for the Logano and the #20 Home Depot/Dollar General Toyota Camry. Ratcliff and Logano have run some races together in the Nationwide Series where Logano has had success and won nine races including a victory in just his third start in the series.

Clearly frustrated by the past, Logano is eager to show that he belongs in the Sprint Cup Series.

“Time to go? Wasn’t it time to go last year,” questioned Logano when told of a comment by JD Gibbs, President of JGR. “I’m not going to argue with that. In my eyes we should have won three years ago. I know the potential is there, I know I have it in me.”

“He ended 2010 so strong and it seemed like 2011 would be easy,” said Gibbs. “He just struggled last year and never really got on a roll. He knows, we have got to improve and really get going.”

Logano believes that with the change in crew chief, Ratcliff is the man to lead him to the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

“We are very similar. He is very easy to talk to. Positive thinking is huge. Having positive people around you is contagious. If you have a bunch of negative attitudes, you’re going to be negative. Jason [Ratcliff] is a very positive person. He knows how I am, he knows how I work.”

Asked if not making the Chase this year would be considered a failure, Logano responded quickly, “Yes, there is no reason why we can’t do that”.

Watch for more reports from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway this week as NASCAR gets ready to kick off the 2012 season with the Daytona 500. Thanks to Sprint, NASCAR and the Charlotte Motor Speedway staff for their organization and sponsorship of the Media Tour.

Share Button