(Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Plus, even in the races he failed to finish, he still ran a great many laps. His Daytona crash ended coming at about the halfway point (when you factor in the rain that eventually shortened the race), and he ran all but 13 laps at Bristol (where he blew a motor).
As far as gaining experience and learning the cars, this first half of the season has been a banner year for Logano and the No. 20. Their success is made all the more impressive given the failures of Scott Speed (the only other Rookie of the Year candidate) and the No. 82 Red Bull team.
That group has failed to qualify for three races (though he was placed in Joe Nemecheck's car in two of them) and is mired back in 36th in the owner standings (Speed ranks 35th in the drivers’ standings). And this is with a driver who came from the “superior” series of Formula 1.
What’s more, Logano has earned the respect of his peers, many of whom congratulated him on his victory yesterday. As important as it is to run well, gaining the respect of the other competitors may be more important.
Logano has paid his dues, hasn’t done anything stupid, and has his fellow competitors’ respect, which says a lot about the person he is.
Is Joey still learning as he goes? Absolutely. He is still a rookie, and will continue to gain experience and get better as the year goes. That much, though, should make his competitors nervous through the end of this season and into next season.
He’ll now be heading to tracks he has been to before in a Sprint Cup car (aside from Indianapolis and Watkins Glen). With that knowledge to draw from, his runs should improve, or I expect them to at least (though he did run relatively well in the first of the year, when he was simply learning the cars and tracks).
What lies ahead for Logano this year? Obviously, a Chase berth is out of the question; he’s too far back. But more wins could be in the cards, especially now that he doesn’t have to worry about the question of “When are you going to win?” He already has!
And, I’ll make a prediction about next year right now.
Given the rate of improvement he has shown this year, I would not be surprised at all if he makes next year’s Chase…and I’ll go out on a limb and say he will.
Joey Logano entered the sport with unseen potential, but also with many lingering questions about whether or not he could handle the Cup Series at such a young age. Not only is he handling it, but he is acquitting himself faster than many believed, and looks to be assuring himself as a future star of the sport.
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