NASCAR: Is Joey Logano: The Phenom The Sport Needs?

LeBron James went from his Senior Prom to playing professional basketball in a matter of months.

Sidney Crosby started skating around the rinks of the NHL a few months after turning 18.

Joey Logano had his 18th birthday on May 24. He celebrated on May 31 by racing in his first NASCAR Nationwide event.

Wait? Joey Logano? Who is that?

He is the next phenom to break into the world of sports at young age. The sport he is infusing himself into? The ultimate face-time sport that is going right now: NASCAR.

Just a few days after he turned 18, Logano placed sixth in the Heluva Good! 200.

Hockey and basketball both needed an infusion of hype and speculation. LeBron James and Sidney Crosby both did that, and they haven't looked back since.

They came into their respective sports with a ton of hype, and a lot of criticism. Both have made it to the ultimate stage in their professions, and have long careers ahead of them.

So, is it any shock that NASCAR, the ultimate sport in hype and face time, would jump on the bandwagon and get themselves a nice young face?

Armed with praise from the likes of Mark Martin, Logano wasted no time in competing in the sport that will make him a superstar. Quite like Crosby and James, Logano has jumped onto the scene.

It also won’t be long before he makes his way to the Sprint circuit and with Kyle Busch dominating at such a young age, there is little doubt that Logano will be able to do the same.

Logano has been racing for some time now, and it would be rather useless to go over the endless number of races he's won. So, let's just put it at this. He's very good, and NASCAR can't wait for him to break into the Sprint series.

He also isn’t afraid to speak his mind, especially after the mix up during a pit stop, in which he expressed his frustration over the team radio.

"Sliced Bread" is also smooth talker at such a young age, and he has the star appeal that NASCAR loves. A sport that makes it’s living off putting their drivers' faces out there for the public to see. Don't expect them to waste any time with Logano.

He even has a cool sponsor that people his age can identify with: Gamestop, a video game retailer.

Logano also wants to win, and he makes no bones about it.

Is the young stud happy with his sixth-place finish?

“It wasn’t what I was looking for, I won’t be happy until I win.”

Charisma, promotional appeal, talent, and now drive?

That's a deadly talent bucket in NASCAR.