Here we go, it’s Vegas time and with two races down and three to go, some teams may need to step it up to stay in the top 35.
One driver that may be in trouble is the Joe Gibbs #20 car of Joey Logano. He had a rough Daytona race that ended with him finishing 43rd after being involved in an accident. California was a little better when he started the race 34th and finished in the 26th position.
But the fact remains, Logano is currently sitting in the 37th place in points and once again heading to another track that he has no experience in a Sprint Cup car; Las Vegas.
(above photo by MotorSportsNews[dot]Net(work) photographer Steve Langley)
Atlanta may not be much better next week either. Last year, in an attempt to qualify on time, Joey failed to qualify which left him leaving the high speed track with only his practice laps for his only experience in the COT car.
Then, the all important Bristol race will finish out the 5th and final time he and others will be able to start, relying on last years owners points. Everyone knows Bristol is one of the toughest places for a rookie to have a good finish. So many factors come into play with luck being a large part of either success or failure at the Worlds Fastest Half Mile track.
Once out of the top 35, he will have a very hard time getting back in. I just think Joey Logano needed more time in either the Truck or Nationwide Series, or both. I know Joe Gibbs said his expectations for Joey this season are not that important but if the team falls out of the top 35 and they start missing races like he did last year, his future could be short in the Sprint Cup Series as a driver.
Sponsors want results and the first time that #20 car has to load up and go back home, well, we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
Last year, with all the hype and some of the announcers promoting him as “one of the best drivers to come into the sport in a long time”, for him not to go out and win races right off the bat, makes his numbers in the point standings a kind of let down. “The next Jeff Gordon”, “Sliced Bread”, and the “Future of NASCAR”, were some of the ways some folks referenced the driver.
All I can say is if he does not get some better finishes in the next three races he’s going to be ‘Burnt Toast’ with the top 35 rule.
Logano is going to be just fine!
I disagree with Joey Logano needing more time in the nationwide series. What’s the point? The nationwide car drives COMPLETELY different the sprint cup car. The only thing he would gain in the nationwide series is confidence, and more track time. But in the end both cars drive completely different.
That is the point, more track time and building confidence would help. But better yet, building communication with his crew chief on how to set up the cars to make them do what he wants them to do, He can’t have Kyle getting in his car every week to help him with the set up. It doesn’t look right.
More experience in the Truck Series would have been better since they say the trucks set ups are more similar to the COT than the Nationwide cars.
I want Joey to do good, and he will be someday, I’m just worried he will get outside the top 35. Ask Waltrip, Reutiman, and Jamie McMurray just how hard it is to get back in. And does Casey Atwood ring a bell?
Thank for the comment.