ESPN has put the cart before the horse.
Joey Logano has been nominated as "Breakout Athlete of 2009." The only problem is, 2009 isn’t here yet and Logano hasn't done anything to deserve the nomination.
Currently Logano runs a limited schedule in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing and won his first race in only his third career start.
The kid—nicknamed “Sliced Bread”—has won in everything that he’s ever sat in and most of that equipment has been Joe Gibbs Racing equipment. This has prompted the officials at JGR to promote Logano to a full time Cup ride in 2009 when Tony Stewart moves on to his own team.
In order to prepare him Logano officials at JGR wanted Logano to get seat time and to show the world that he was ready for the big time.
- B/R Ticket Guide
They probably should have waited.
Logano made his first Sprint Cup start at New Hampshire in September driving for Hall of Fame Racing. Sure, he didn’t wreck the car but that was about all he did. He couldn’t keep pace with any of the leaders and finished thirty-second...three laps down.
Round two came at the Kansas Motor Speedway. Logano again couldn’t keep pace and bounced the car off the wall a couple times. He finished thirty-ninth.
On both of these occasions Logano blamed the equipment of Hall-of-Fame Racing and couldn’t wait to get in a Joe Gibbs Racing prepared car. In Logano's defense, Hall-of-Fame Racing doesn't exactly have top notch equipment; however, there has been so much hype surrounding him and the way he talks, we're lead to believe that he could not only compete but win in anything.
Finally at the Texas Motor Speedway, both Logano and the world saw him in a JGR race car.
Not surprisingly he didn’t perform.
He finished fortieth and nine laps off the pace. There was no excuse this time.
Many fans and media, specifically Jimmy Spencer, has said that Logano is just not ready for the Sprint Cup Series and that extra time in the Nationwide Series wouldn’t hurt.
Now, ESPN The Magazine is ready to declare him a breakout for a year that isn't even on the calander yet. Apparently they have not seen how he has performed at this point either.
However, maybe they have it right. Maybe he will be a breakout-only because he’s going to have Tony Stewart’s championship winning team and cars.
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about 1 month ago
:-) was a fun read...
from about 1 month ago
Thanks very much!
about 1 month ago
Kelly, I agree with you - Joey still has alot to prove and it's way too early to call him a break out at this point. The good news is that at least NASCAR is being recognized in that venue by ESPN. But he sure does need to prove himself on that Cup track.
from about 1 month ago
That is exactly right Mary Jo-
I just dont understand how they can nominate someone for something that hasn't happened yet. Of course, everyone is saying that it's just an athlete that should be watched in 2009, then they need to change the title.
Because Joey could blow it next year.
about 1 month ago
ESPN does this all the time, they'll jump on the bandwagon of an athlete and they'll over hype him every chance they get. But let Logano fail, not produce, they'll jump off it just as fast as they got on it and Scott Speed has shown us more than "Boy Wonder" (That's my nickname for Logano).
from about 1 month ago
You are very right SM-
Speed has both the talent and maturity than Logano will ever have. Just listening to him speak he comes across as great. Maybe the hype has gone to his head.....
about 1 month ago
couldn't agree more with you. I thought from the beginning the chocie to put him in the 20 came to soon. JGR wasn't expecting Smoke to leave this year so Logano had at least two years to prepare for the cup series. But smokes choice to leave sped up the process. I want to see results before I even say he's the next best thing, yea he can win the nationwide but those cars are completly different cars and the competition is nothing compared to cup. ESPN once again trying to make noise by making this stance makes me wonder did they actually watch Logano at Texas???
about 1 month ago
Looking at the other three athletes selected, Rubio is still largely unknown outside of America and Price just got called up to the majors in time for push to the playoffs (where he made limited, albeit strong, appearances). Matt Ryan, on the other hand, has been highly successful in his rookie season. Logano is closer in performance to Rubio and Price than he is to Ryan. I think the purpose of ESPN's piece, which is something they have done for the past decade, is to give fans an insight into athletes who will burst onto the scene for the upcoming year. By burst onto the scene, that doesn't necessarily mean leading a team to the Super Bowl or Sprint Cup, but showing you have the tools to accomplish those goals down the line. I'm not a Logano fan, but frankly, I'm tired of the heat he is taking for the way he has performed this year. I hear the words "overhyped" and "bust" thrown around a lot. Rome wasn't built in a day, and even future superstars need time to get used to their surroundings. Dear God, Jeff Gordon could have had a personal service agreement with Advil as many times as he hit the wall in 1993. I still believe Logano will be running in the top 10 on a regular basis by the end of 2009 with the 20 team. As for Speed, I see nothing mature about him. His actions in the ARCA finale were those of a complete clown. I know he was wrecked, but show a little bit more dignity than that. And saying it was "just ARCA" showed a complete lack of respect for his competitors. Something they teach well over in Formula 1, and will soon infiltrate the Sprint Cup garage.
from about 1 month ago
Great Hollis, so it's cool to be running for a Championship, get wrecked out by your chief competitor for the title and your cool with Stenhouse being crowned champion. I know I would have done the same thing Speed did and let me tell you Stenhouse would have left the track in a Ambulance not crying in his car about his brakes. The Speed Demon, sent out the message, race me, beat me cleanily, but if your going to be a A-Hole like Stenhouse than expect it to be dished right back to you. Now this straight from Larry & Jeff, if Speed didn't retaliate fans would have critised him worse than what they have and what Stenhouse did it can't go over looked.
about 1 month ago
OK, I agree with 2 or 3 of the statements.
What some people forget, is this "kid" is Really a Kid.... just turned 18.
Yes, with Stewart leaving a year early,it sped up the process to bring Joey to the Cup.
Yes, ESPN is showcasing people who have the natural talent, to watch out for in 2009 because they should be the new guys to watch.
Now my take, is that they had Lagano in a cup seat, to get his licenses, and to get experience, look at last year and the Indy guys running. Most of the time, the team they are racing for is breaking in the the pit crew and how they work with the driver, looking for what they need to improve on, other than track position. Call it a very expensive practice race.
Being with JGR, you know he is going to get the best equipment and crew money can buy.
And yes, inexperience will have him in the wall occasionally. If You never hit the wall, you aint never been really racin.
My only problem, is he'll probably do double duty, and fade out towards the end of the year, burning out some.
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