The young man nicknamed “Sliced Bread” — because he’s known in NASCAR circles as “the best thing since sliced bread” — is expected to finally make his Cup debut at this weekend’s race in Louden, N.H.
Joey Logano, 18, who will replace two- time series champion Tony Stewart in the No. 20 next year, had his scheduled Cup debut ruined by rain last weekend in Richmond, Va.
The lineup for the regular season-ending race was set by points after inclement weather washed out qualifying, and Logano — who in June became the youngest winner in Nationwide Series history — had to wait another week.
But the Connecticut native is thrilled to have a chance to debut at New Hampshire, where he won twice in as many races last year in the Camping World East Series. He will be powered by Joe Gibbs Racing and teammates with Stewart, points leader Kyle Busch and fellow Chase playoff driver Denny Hamlin, so there’s little doubt he won’t have plenty of speed and educational support.
Logano couldn’t compete in NASCAR’s national circuits until he turned 18 in May. In his third start, he won a Nationwide race. Monday, he was told he would begin next year in the Budweiser Shootout, the pre-Daytona 500 all-star race, and have a guaranteed spot in the big, season-opening race, by virtue of taking over Stewart’s ride.
“That will be really cool too since that will give me a little more experience there at Daytona,” Logano said in a release about the Shootout. “That means a lot to be in the Daytona 500.”
If he qualifies for Sunday’s race, Logano figures to garner as much interest as the 12 playoff drivers. Some playoff notes:
• In the fifth year of the Chase, only two-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson and 2003 champion Matt Kenseth have qualified for the postseason each time.
• Who’s favored? Leader Kyle Busch, No. 2 Carl Edwards and No. 3 Johnson have combined for 18 of 26 regular-season victories. The previous most for a three-driver combination was 13, achieved in each of the past four years.
• Johnson, Stewart, Kenseth and Jeff Gordon are the only past champions in the group, but only Johnson has won a race this year.
• Remember Junior? Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in the Chase with his new team, Hendrick Motorsports, and the switch from his late father’s former team has paid dividends. A year ago Junior was 16th in the final points.
• For the first time in NASCAR history, two drivers are in contention to win Cup and Nationwide titles in the same season. Clint Bowyer begins the playoffs tied for fourth and leads the Nationwide points. Edwards, the defending Nationwide champion, is second in both series.
Let’s Rally.
Before the snow begins to fall in Steamboat Springs, dirt will be flying this week at Rally Colorado, the eighth of nine events in the Rally America National Championship series. Steamboat will host the event, formerly known as the Colorado Cog Rally, for the fourth time.
Forty two-man teams are expected to compete in six classes, from stock to highly modified cars such as Audi, Dodge, Subaru, Mazda and Hyundai. For more information, visit .
