Nicknamed "Sliced Bread" by Nationwide Series legend Randy LaJoie and "the real deal" by Sprint Series legend Mark Martin, Joey Logano is not shy about his accomplishments in racing and closed his first year in the Sprint Cup Series as the 2009 Raybastos Rookie of the Year.
In the age of 19, Logano became the youngest winner of the award after finishing 24th place finish in the season ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, beating out former Formula One driver Scott Speed and former North American open wheel racing start Max Papis for the title.
At the post-race press conference he quoted: "That's cool. That was one of our big goals this year. It's pretty neat to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year. I appreciate that. It's really cool to get the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. It's obviously one of our big goals. I've got to thank The Home Depot for sticking behind me throughout the year. We had a real rough start and finished 20th in the points, I guess is okay. In the beginning of the season if you had told me that's where we were going to finish I'd have been ecstatic about it but now you always want better."
The highlight of his 2009 season came on June 28th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when he won the rain-shortened Lenox Industrial Tools 301, becoming the youngest driver ever to win a Sprint Cup Series event.
Logano continues:
"It was tough at times believe me. You know the media wasn't saying the greatest things but if anything it's more motivating. You really want to keep pushing it and become a better race car driver.
by Chris Kasta
