Young: Logano’s talent is evident, but Cup racing is difficult

This is not what Joey Logano had in mind, though in a way it’s what he should have expected.

As talented as the teenager is — and everyone from Rick Hendrick to Mark Martin to Kyle Busch has called him one of the most naturally gifted drivers ever to come along — there is nothing someone his age can do to prepare for life on the Sprint Cup circuit.

He’s won in everything he’s ever driven, beginning in a quarter-midget car when he was 7. He won a NASCAR Camping World Series East division title in 2007 and earned a Nationwide Series victory in his debut last year at Kentucky. Such early results only heightened the expectations for the personable Logano, and when Joe Gibbs elected to speed up his rise to Sprint Cup to replace Tony Stewart in the famed 20 Home Depot car, the sky was the limit.

A funny thing happened on his way to the Chase. Reality hit and Logano entered Saturday’s race at Phoenix barely hanging on to a guaranteed starting spot at 35th in points. He’s had accidents, he’s had engine problems and he’s shown that yellow sticker on his bumper is there for a reason.

In a way it’s refreshing to see such a hyped driver struggle. It reminds us just how difficult NASCAR’s highest level of racing is, and it makes you appreciate those such as Stewart and Jeff Gordon who found early success.

It’s also nice to hear that Logano and his veteran team are prepared to grow together. The driver, who some categorize as cocky, has never come across as such to this writer. Even in January, just as he was the toast of the preseason media tour visit to Joe Gibbs Racing, Logano inisted he was prepared to begin a steep learning curve.

“It grounds you to look around and see who you work with and race against, that’s for sure,” he said. “You realize this is the best of the best right here. You think about the people who race in this series, so to even be in it is a compliment in itself.”

Logano knows there are drivers who think he’s gotten here too quickly without paying his dues. However, he doesn’t bow down to them, nor does he apologize for where he is. He also understands that true on-track respect will come only with time and the results to earn it.

“I’ve taken a fast road, but I’ve done a lot of different things,” he said. “I always want to be in something where people are better than me. That’s the only way to learn, to do it against the best. I have to show them I belong up here.”

So when he was asked how many wins he expected this year, Logano laughed and warned the assembled media about expecting too much. He does, though, have a plan, and it’s all about getting better.

“I set no goals aside from Rooke of the Year,” he said in January. “I’m not a goal setter. I go out there and do the best I can every week. I go for wins and see what happens.”

Las week’s Nationwide win at Nashville Superspeedway reminded everyone that the kid can indeed win. Sure, it was a Nationwide field, but he was able to hold off JGR teammate Busch to get it. Afterward he admitted the win was much needed.

“It’s big for me; it’s an awesome confidence-booster for sure,” Logano said. “Looking and saying, ‘Hey, I can do this; I am here for a reason; I can win races,’ that’s big, just to reassure yourself of that. And I’m sure this is just going to keep carrying on, and now we just have to build on this momentum and keep going.”

In reality, Logano should be learning on the Nationwide level this year, but Stewart’s abrupt departure left Gibbs with little choice but to rush the young driver’s development. Though other highly touted drivers such as Casey Atwood have fizzled after being rushed, don’t expect that to happen to the toothy teenager.

“I would stake my reputation on Joey Logano,” Martin said earlier this season. “He’s that good. Don’t worry about him. When it’s all said and done, he’ll be one of the best.”