Logano to make Cup Debut at Richmond?
August 12, 2008
Just three short months after he made his Nationwide debut at Dover, Joey “Sliced Bread” Logano is evidently on his way to living the dream of every 18 year-old race car driver in the world. Joe Gibbs Racing has apparently decided to run Logano in several events at the back end of the 2008 season, preparing him to take over the #20 Toyota Tony Stewart will vacate at season’s end.
Richmond is reportedly first on the list. I’m not sure the last race before the Chase is the best time to let a brand new kid loose in a Sprint Cup race, but hopefully Logano will use the opportunity to gain experience and not notoriety. He will get his fair share of press no matter when he debuts in Cup, but possibly the powers that be at Gibbs are thinking that the Chase contenders will well overshadow the Logano story, thereby relieving some of the pressure of his first start.
Talladega, Dover, Atlanta, Charlotte, Martinsville, Phoenix, and Homestead would also be smart places for JGR to field a car for Logano. Next year’s Rookie of the Year will need as much experience as he can get on tracks such as these, and he will need to get a feel for how the Cup cars differ from the Nationwide cars at these venues. Logano has already proven that he can win at 1.5 mile tracks, but Atlanta is much faster than Kentucky, and Charlotte is always a place new guys want as much time on as possible due to the high-profile events held there.
Let’s hope that this isn’t another case of “too much too soon,” and that young Logano impresses everyone at the Sprint Cup level as much as Joe Gibbs Racing seems to think he will. If he doesn’t, and Joe and J.D. Gibbs were to decide to leave him in Nationwide for another year, they will have a tough time finding another qualified driver for the #20 so late in the season.
Double Clutchin’-The Good, The Bad, And The Glen
August 12, 2008
What was it that The Who said? Oh yeah, that song went a little something like this:
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
And I think they followed that part up with something about Read more
Left,Right,Left,Right… Kyle claims another victory!
August 11, 2008
It doesn’t seem to matter, Kyle Busch’s M&M’s machine is on fire. Stewart tried to get him in the closing laps, but it wasn’t to be. Busch now has the lead at the start of the Chase, but I don’t think he’s going to be the Cup Champion. I think the Chase will be won by… Read more
Moving toward the Countdown in Minnesota
August 11, 2008
Another race, another dominating performance in Top Fuel at the Brainerd, Minnesota Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
Tony Schumacher, who swept the 2008 Western Swing and is the five-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, marched to his 50th career victory in Brainerd (two away from tying Joe Amato’s Top Fuel record) as he defeated his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Cory McClenathan.
“I’m quite aware of how good this team is; it’s the best team I’ve ever seen,” said Schumacher. “We’re racing against great teams. It’s a lot of pressure, but I love those situations. It’s amazing to be a part of these moments. I feel like I’m driving my best. I feel like I’m doing a good job keeping the car in the center [of the lane] I feel like I’m part of the team right now.”
Responded Cory Mac: “The day went as planned: let’s have the right people go out so we can start moving up in the points. Everyone was talking about clinching a spot in the Countdown before Indy, but that still doesn’t deny the fact that I still want to win drag races and make a statement and catch up to my teammate [who is No. 1 in the standings.] Read more
Wandering thoughts after Watkins Glen
August 10, 2008
Another week, another Kyle Busch win. If you are still out there thinking that Kyle and the #18 team is having a fluke season, you might need to check yourself into the clinic. This kid is on fire. When you can win on short tracks, road courses, 1.5 mile cookie cutters, and superspeedways, you might just be the best in NASCAR. For sure, the M&M’s team has what it takes to win in the elite NASCAR Sprint Cup series. Onto the thoughts… Read more
Observations from Watkins Glen
August 10, 2008
- Road racing may be the bane of certain NASCAR drivers’ existence, but it has a place in the Sprint Cup Series. Especially Watkins Glen. As a matter of fact, I wish NASCAR would alter the schedule to include this historic old place in the Chase.
- Marcos Ambrose made some magic this weekend for the struggling Wood Brothers. The Woods made a huge mistake by letting JTG/Daughtery snitch Ambrose away from them. I just hope he receives some decent cars for the ovals next year so we can see what he can really do. Read more
Dixon Eyes IRL Championship with KY Win
August 10, 2008
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon won the Meijer Indy 300 Saturday (August 9th) and moved into a nearly insurmountable lead in the race for the 2008 Indy Racing League championship with only two races remaining. Read more
Childress Should Consider Franchitti for 4th Car in 2009
August 9, 2008
Dario Franchitti has not exactly been given a fair shake since coming into NASCAR. He drove for a team that, while well-established, has never made a lot of noise in the Sprint Cup Series. It is fairly evident that Chip Ganassi’s heart is still with open wheel racing.
Franchitti also spent a lot of time on the sidelines due to his injuries suffered in that ugly crash at Talladega. That wreck doomed him to a shaky first season in NASCAR even without the other troubles descending upon the team. Read more
Jeff Arend - Back in the Saddle Again
August 9, 2008
In the wake of the tragedy that took place during the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals earlier this season, where two time NHRA Top Fuel Dragster Champion and current Funny Car competitior Scott Kalitta perished in a fatal crash, some good news has come about for one of the most under-rated drivers in our sport today.
Jeff Arend, a former resident of Toronto, ON who now resides in California, has paid his dues Read more
Waive the Rain Flag… protect the Chase drivers!
August 8, 2008
I don’t know how much rain it takes to wash out qualifying, but NASCAR protects their Chase drivers by canceling qualifying. Where were the rain tires? Why couldn’t they qualify on those? Read more