Anxious, Nervous, Excited: Joey Logano Preps for NASCAR's Biggest Stage

Joey Logano should be getting ready to graduate from high school, be filling out college applications or otherwise doing things a typical 18-year-old kid does at this point in life. But Logano isn't exactly any other kid.

Instead of worrying about homework, Logano has his eyes set on becoming the youngest driver in history to start the Daytona 500 on Sunday after taking over the reigns left vacant by Tony Stewart of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. 2009 will mark Logano's first full season in the highest form of NASCAR racing.

Last week, I had a chance to catch up Logano to talk about the upcoming season, the new NASCAR Kart Racing game for Nintendo Wii and a little on-track skirmish he had in January.

FanHouse: Hey Joey, thanks for chatting with us. First off, you made some headlines a few weeks back during the Toyota All-Star Challenge at Irwindale Speedway when you wrecked the leader Peyton Sellars on the last lap. NASCAR penalized you for the move, taking away the victory. What did you think about the call and would you do it again?

Joey Logano: You know, I really did hate for all those guys behind me who got caught up in that mess and wrecked their race cars, but it was an All-Star race and I just made a move I thought could win it. We had the lead just a few laps before and was just trying to get it back by driving it down in there and it didn't stick like I thought it would.

FH: After the race, the driver you ran into, Peyton Sellars, stopped by your car to have a few words. What did you talk about?

JL: Oh, well, you know, he just stopped to talk about going to dinner sometime or something like that -- if you know what I mean. [laughs] It was definitely just to make some plans for dinner later and how to unlock my character on the new NASCAR Kart Racing game.

FH: Oh yeah? I've heard some things about EA Sports' NASCAR Kart Racing for Wii. Have you had a chance to play it?

JL: Actually, I just got a chance to play it for the first time the other night and it was a lot of fun. It's a lot like Mario Kart because you can shoot things at people to spin them out to crash them and things like that. Plus, if you play it enough you can unlock more tracks and drivers like me in my Gamestop car. I haven't had enough time to get there yet, though.



FH: Well, if you did have time for that, you probably wouldn't be getting ready for Daytona right now. What would Joey Logano be doing if this racing thing hadn't taken off?

JL: I'd probably be back home in Connecticut hauling garbage because that's what my dad used to do. Of course, I'd be driving the truck. Even if I wasn't racing, I'd have to be driving something.

FH: Knowing that, it's a probably been a very good thing for Mark Martin to have called you "the real deal" before anyone had ever heard of your name, right?

JL: When he said that, I was 14 and no one had ever heard of me and after that, all the big teams knew my name. It was a big deal to have a driver like Mark Martin say something that nice about me and it definitely helped get me on the map and to where I am today in NASCAR. He really was responsible for helping me get into stock car racing.

FH: You've certainly come a long way from that point. Are you nervous at all about taking over Tony Stewart's old ride that has won two championships in the past 7 years?

JL: I'm definitely anxious to get the season started, and yeah, a little nervous at the same time. Everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing has been helping me get ready and I really think Zippi [crew chief Greg Zipadelli] and I will work great together. Getting in No. 20 Home Depot car is a big honor and I've obviously get some big shoes to fill after Tony left, but I think we're heading in the right direction. I'm definitely looking forward to getting in the car at Daytona.



FH: You had a handful of Sprint Cup starts toward the end of 2008 and none of them went too well. What will be different in 2009?

JL: I think a big difference will be getting in full-time with Joe Gibbs Racing and getting to be in the car each weekend. I know I'll be in the same car each weekend and having Zippy (Zipadelli) there will really help bring some consistency. Just being in the car week-in and week-out will certainly make things a little easier.

FH: Finally, you've earned the nickname "Sliced Bread" in the garage area thanks to your rising star status. What's your thoughts on that and would you change it?

JL: Oh, I don't really care what names people have for me, but that one actually has a story behind it. It actually came from [former NASCAR driver] Randy LaJoie last season and it has just kind of stuck. I guess its a good thing that everybody at least knows who I am, right?

FH: Certainly. Thanks Joey and best of luck for 2009.

JL: Thanks.