Daytona 500 2012: Joey Logano's Comeback Will Begin at NASCAR's Biggest Event

Expectations have been the downfall of Joey Logano—until now, that is.

2012 is the year that Logano proves his worth, and it all begins on Feb. 26 on NASCAR's biggest stage: the Daytona 500.

Logano joined the Sprint Cup Series' Joe Gibbs Racing as a green 18-year-old, and since then, he's won just a single race—at New Hampshire in 2009—and things have seemingly gone downhill for him since. In 2011, his worst season yet, he finished 24th in the Sprint Cup standings and ranked in the top five in just four races.

But now, with a new crew chief in Jason Ratcliff, 2012 marks a new beginning.

"We do need to jell really well, really quickly," Logano told USA Today's Jim Peltz. "But I feel like I'm ahead of where I was last year before the season started."

In addition to a new crew chief, Logano has employed someone else to help him get his head back in the game and achieve the success that's eluded him for so long: a sports psychologist.

"I learned a lot from it -- just the way to deal with people, the way to communicate in a positive way, and in a motivating way for other people," Logano said.

Logano has raced at Daytona six times with one top five finish and an average finish of 22.8. Now that the pressure is off (is there anyone who's really expecting much of anything from him at this point?), the time is right for him to show the world why his minor-league nickname was "Sliced Bread."

Logano, who debuted in September 2008 as the youngest driver in series history, has admitted that his rise might have been too fast. At 18 years old, he wasn't prepared for his off-track responsibilities, as well as the leadership demands required to succeed. But with a few seasons under his belt, a better mindset and a new crew chief, the odds have never been better for him to get back in the game.

And it all starts at Daytona.