Joey Logano celebrated more than his 18th birthday Saturday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
With a cake and a “Happy Birthday” serenade from the press in attendance, Logano officially opened the book on his NASCAR career.
“It feels like I’ve been waiting for 18 years,” said Logano, the teen phenom who observers believe to be destined for stardom at NASCAR’s highest level.
The Joe Gibbs Racing developmental driver will make his Nationwide Series debut May 31 at Dover, a track with which he is familiar thanks to his experience in the NASCAR Camping World East Series. He will debut in the No. 20 Toyota Camry, which had won four-straight races heading to LMS.
“There’s definitely some pressure (in driving a successful car),” Logano said. “But I’d rather be in a car that has a chance to be up front and win than in one that you think is going to finish 25th.”
JGR President J.D. Gibbs said Logano will compete in 18-19 Nationwide Series events as well as some ARCA/REMAX Series races, such as the recent ARCA Carolina 500 at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway which Logano dominated.
“We’re in no hurry,” Gibbs said. “We’re not going to rush him to get (to Cup). When the time is right, we’ll all be able to go.”
Regardless of when Logano is ready, Gibbs said his addition will fit well into JGR’s plans to field a fourth team in the future.
“It could be next year, or it could be 2010,” Gibbs said. Game Stop, a video-game chain store, will be Logano’s sponsor for Dover and then the next week as the series travels to Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway for a stand-alone event.
Joe Gibbs, the recently re-retired coach of the Washington Redskins, echoed his son’s thoughts on Logano’s timetable for Sprint Cup.
“We’re not putting any pressure on Joey,” the elder Gibbs said. “Whatever the timing is, we’re committed to him. Toyota is committed.”