UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Teenage NASCAR phenom Joey Logano returned to his home state to be honored as the 2007 NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series champion at the awards ceremony at the Mohegan Sun Resort Saturday night.
The 17-year-old rookie driver from Middletown, Conn., was presented the championship trophy and postseason team awards.
Logano’s winnings, bonus awards and point-fund earnings pushed his season total to $233,978.
The championship celebration culminated with NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations George Silbermann presenting Logano with the prestigious NASCAR championship ring.
“This has been a dream year for me, winning six races, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year, and the NASCAR championship,” Logano said. “Thanks to J.D. and Joe Gibbs for taking this chance on me and giving me this great opportunity.”
Logano’s awards for 2007 included the $6,000 rookie bonus, as well as $5,000 for winning the Aero Exhaust Award.
He also collected $33,284 by winning the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
Other award winners included the presentation of the Champion Owner and Sponsor trophies to J.D. Gibbs. The Lunati Champion Crew Chief Award, along with $2,500, went to the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Driven crew chief, Mike Sibley.
Busch East rookie Jeffrey Earnhardt, was also presented with the Most Popular Driver Award. Sean Caisse won the Busch Pole Award and HDNet Award.
In addition, Caisse was presented with the driver trophy for finishing second in the championship standings, while Peyton Sellers of Danville, Va., received the third-place driver’s trophy.
Rogelio Lopez won the $6,000 Featherlite Driver Improvement Award and Jesus Hernandez won POWERade Power Move Award.
Other award winners were: Bunk Sampson Award, New Hampshire Int’l Speedway founder Bob Bahre; Busch East Series Women’s Auxiliary Award, retiring series official Billy Rider; Sportsmanship Award, Dion Ciccarelli; Most Improved Driver Award,  Rogelio Lopez.