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closeJust 18? Yes, but Logano has turned a lap or two
THATSRACIN.COM OPINION
DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
In this image from June 21, 2008, driver Joey Logano (right) jokes with members of his crew before the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis. File
Some observations on NASCAR, motorsports and more from the Observer's beat writer:
MY TWO CENTS
I can't help but laugh when people wring their hands about putting Joey Logano in a Sprint Cup car at the age of 18.
Is there risk involved in such a move? You bet there is.
Eighteen is young to be thrown into the deep end of the pool. There is no guarantee that Logano will be a success. But there is every indication he will have every opportunity to be.
He's going to be with one of the sport's best teams (Joe Gibbs Racing), have one of NASCAR's top crew chiefs (two-time champion Greg Zipadelli) and he's got a sponsor (The Home Depot) that is committed to success in the sport.
You can't find anybody in racing who'll tell you anything other than that Logano is an exceptional talent. He's won once and finished in the top 10 seven times in 10 Nationwide Series races so far.
The idea that Logano should choose not to pursue or even decline an opportunity like he's getting to drive the No. 20 Toyotas is laughable.
You hear people say that Logano should spend a year or two in the Nationwide Series learning how to race. What? Are you kidding me? He's been racing since he was 6! He's got it pretty well figured out.
Being a Cup driver will put demands on Logano's time and energy that might be beyond the years of a typical 18-year-old. But if Logano were typical, he wouldn't be getting this chance.
OBSERVATIONS
Revisiting the points of contention
You may get tired of me bringing up my pet idea to change the Chase for the Sprint Cup system, giving a driver a 500-point bonus for his first win in the regular season and then again in the Chase.
But under that format 19 drivers still would be in position to earn one of the 12 Chase slots with two races left to the cutoff.
Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth would not be in the Chase, but would go into California and Richmond knowing that a win would put them safely and solidly in.
Ryan Newman, the winner of this year's Daytona 500 would be in. Kasey Kahne, who has won a pair of races, would be in.
But Kurt Busch would not be in despite the fact he's won a race. Stewart, Biffle and Harvick have not won but they'd still be in ahead of Busch, showing this bonus system doesn't discount consistency.
Here's my standings would look:
As of now
1. Kyle Busch, 4,109
2. Carl Edwards, 3,897
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 3,693
4. Jimmie Johnson, 3,691
5. Jeff Burton, 3,617
6. Denny Hamlin, 3,400
7. Clint Bowyer, 3,355
8. Kasey Kahne, 3,299
9. Ryan Newman, 3,174
10. Tony Stewart, 3,013
11. Greg Biffle, 2,984
12. Kevin Harvick, 2,972
Trying to get in
13. Jeff Gordon, 2,951
14. Kurt Busch, 2,942
15. Matt Kenseth, 2,921
16. David Ragan, 2,843
17. Brian Vickers, 2,672
18. Martin Truex Jr., 2,592
19. Jamie McMurray, 2,492
NASCAR points | Driver standings after Saturday night's race at Bristol