Joe Gibbs Racing didn’t have a particularly good weekend in Indianapolis. The teams finished 10th, 25th and 27th. Adding to the weekend woes was what has become a very common problem for JGR – an expired engine; this time for Denny Hamlin.
This ongoing issue comes as rumors about the future of JGR’s engine program swirl. We’ve heard in recent months that there have been layoffs within JGR’s engine department and J.D. Gibbs said this weekend, after earlier denying it, that a collaboration with Toyota Racing Development is possible.
The team has struggled the last couple of seasons with sour engines. There have been nine expired engines so far this season prior to races. In the last two seasons, bad engines have cost the team five DNFs. Those aren’t numbers to be proud of.
Despite the issues, the team has had success with their engine program. Since switching to Toyota in 2008 they’ve racked up 34 wins. That means, in three and half seasons a JGR team wins one in every four races. Those ARE numbers to be proud of.
The same can’t be said for TRD’s engine program. Since entering the sport in 2007 they have just three wins – and of those three only one wasn’t decided by weather or fuel mileage.
The difference between the two programs is stunning. While one has flourished, the other has languished. While one has found success and competed for championships, the other hasn’t done much. Still, the TRD engines haven’t had nearly as much trouble as the Gibbs engines.
The serious issues with reliability are taking their toll on the team – things can’t continue like this if JGR hopes to compete for championships and regularly compete for wins.
I’m certain this is a top priority for Gibbs. And obviously, Gibbs’ head engine builder Mark Cronquist – a NASCAR and JGR veteran – would likely be part of any collaboration with TRD. One can also suspect much of the talent and knowledge that has made JGR such a powerhouse would make the move, but is this what’s best?
The team needs to get its house in order and soon. While Hamlin remains on the cusp of a Chase run and Logano is far out, Kyle Busch is likely to sit near the top of the standings when the points reset in a few weeks. If there’s any hope of converting the team’s success up to this point to a seat at the head table in Las Vegas, reliability has to be improved.
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7, 6, 5, 4, 3.
No, that isn’t a countdown of some type. Those are Joey Logano’s finishes over the last five races. At this rate, he’ll finish second at Homestead and win the 2011 Daytona 500. How cool would that be?
With all that has been going on over the last few weeks with the championship contenders, Logano’s great finishes have gone almost unnoticed. I say almost because we noticed, as did TNI reader Tim (thanks for the email). If he is able to bring home another top five or top ten finish at Homestead, it will cap off a very solid sophomore season for the young driver from Connecticut.
There seems to be a bit of stigma for young drivers and their sophomore season. Often times, after a good rookie year, the expectations can weigh on a driver and bring down the performances of the second season. But for the driver known as “Sliced Bread,” the second season has been anything but disappointing.
Outside of not having won a race this season like he did in 2009, Logano has improved in every statistical category in 2010. He has more top five and top ten finishes, and his average finish has improved by almost four positions to 16.1 over last year. Logano’s points position (at least as of Phoenix) has also improved by four positions.
I want to point out though that while Logano hasn’t been able to win heading into the 2010 finale, he was certainly more of a contender this season. Don’t forget that his lone win last season came in a rain shortened race at New Hampshire. I certainly don’t want to take anything away from that win, because a W is a W, but he’s shown this season that he has the ability to run up front and win.
Logano’s development from East Series champion to Cup Series contender has been fun to watch. And Joe Gibbs Racing’s decision to match him with a veteran crew chief in Greg Zipadelli and an experienced #20 crew may just lead him to the Chase and a shot at the Cup Series title very soon.
Until then however, we’ll be rooting for Logano at Homestead… To finish second.
Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Sprint Cup, Joe Gibbs Racing, Joey Logano, NASCAR
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Filed under: Ryan Newman, NASCAR Crashes, NASCAR Fights, Sprint Cup, Joey Logano, NASCAR
When it comes to racing Joey Logano, a pattern is starting to emerge with how some of the veterans treat the young driver. And the message from the veterans appears to be that they don’t respect this kid very much. Recent run-ins with Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya kept Logano from good finishes at Pocono and Infineon, and it’s no secret he doesn’t get along with Greg Biffle. Instead of complaining about his fellow competitors to the media like he’s been doing though, it’s time Logano finally took action on the track.
The most talked about incident between Logano and a veteran happened a few weeks ago at Pocono. While running in the top five late in the race, Logano was turned by Harvick with two laps to go. Logano charged back to finish 13th, but after the race, Logano spouted off in anger and said:
“It’s disappointing, to be honest with you. I had a top-five run going. I was racing the 29 and he let me go in the middle of the straightaway and decided to dump me in the next turn. I don’t know what his deal is with me. It’s probably not his fault, you know? His wife wears the fire suit in the family, tells him what to do, so it’s not his fault.”
Besides the comment, Logano also took the opportunity to get in Harvick’s face after the race and let him know he was upset about what happened. ”Sliced Bread” was so angry, he had to be restrained by crew members.
The move ultimately backfired on Logano though. Instead of making him look tougher, Harvick and his wife Delana turned it around and made light of the situation by selling “firesuit” t-shirts, with proceeds benefiting the Harvicks’ charity. Not exactly what Logano was looking for.
Now that he’s gotten a taste of how this all works, I’m of the opinion that Logano needs to quit talking. The next time he gets wrecked by a competitor, he needs to exact revenge. Whether that means waiting for a payback track like Bristol or Martinsville, or taking out his frustrations under a caution a la Clint Bowyer at Dover, it’s time for action. These guys won’t get the picture that Logano isn’t to be messed with until he shows that he isn’t afraid to ruin someone else’s day. Some of these guys are messing with Joey because they know they can push him around and he won’t do anything about it. That needs to change.
Don’t get me wrong here though, I’m not usually one for wrecks. When I watch a race, I want to see good, hard, clean action. I know too many drivers, and seeing somebody get hurt is the last thing I want.
At some point though, Logano needs to stand up and make a statement. And that statement needs to be made with action, on track, and not by complaining to a guy with a microphone.
Filed under: Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Fights, Sprint Cup, Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Joey Logano, NASCAR
Joey Logano, at just 20 years old, has won twice at the Kentucky Speedway. Thing is, he’s only raced there twice. In June of 2008, Logano won his first Nationwide series race at Kentucky, despite teammate Kyle Busch doing his best to wreck him. The Joe Gibbs driver won again at the 2009 Meijer 300 on the Nationwide series. Although now a staple on the Sprint Cup Series, Logano has opted to try his luck at winning again at Kentucky. Logano has yet to win on the Nationwide Series this season, but finished in 3rd on May 29 in the Tech-Net Auto Service 300. Logano won his first Sprint Cup Series race last year at the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 in New Hampshire. NASCAR’s wunderkid will go for three in a row in Sparta, Kentucky this Saturday.
Filed under: Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, NASCAR
Helicopter parent: a colloquial, early 21st-century term for a parent who pays extremely close attention to his or her child’s or children’s experiences and problems
Bill France Sr. founded NASCAR some 60+ years ago with the outlaws and good ole boys of Southern stock car racing. It was a rough and tumble time – France Sr. was even known to carry around a sidearm to keep order. Who was in charge was never in question. And while that remains true today, some things have changed. For instance, something tells me Big Bill never had to deal with a driver’s parent. Take Tom Logano.
To his credit the elder Logano is a man who is truly devoted to both his children and their dreams. In spite of his unwavering support for his children, Tom Logano is becoming a headache for Joe Gibbs Racing and for NASCAR. In his second trip to the NASCAR hauler in eight months, Logano is proving he is not able to handle his situation.
In his latest outburst, Logano, obviously upset, appeared to encourage his son’s confrontation with Kevin Harvick, and then stormed after him, making contact with TNT pit reporter Ralph Sheheen (that interview should be uncomfortable next week). Logano, for his part, says the incident was overblown.
Whatever happened, Logano needs to be evaluating the necessity of his hovering. It’s difficult for every parent to see their children caught up in bad situations. I can’t imagine what it’s like to see your kid involved in high speed hijinks with someone nearly twice his age. That said, you don’t see Nancy Sterling (Carl Edwards’ mom) getting into it with Kevin Harvick, or Nelson Stewart (Tony Stewart’s dad) going toe-to-toe with Robby Gordon. They manage to maintain a professional at-track presence, and let their boys handle their own business (which is what Joey was trying to do).
And lets be honest, NASCAR should never call a wife, girlfriend, father, mother, brother etc. to the hauler to have a discussion with them (or to pull their hard card). When loved ones are at the track they are spectators. I would hope they would have enough respect for those they were there to support to keep their mouths shut and actions in check.
It’s a shame for Joey Logano, on a night when he was working to prove he was just one of the guys (and wasn’t afraid to express himself off the track), that his daddy again overshadowed his moment.
I respect Tom Logano for everything he has done for his children, but it’s time he step back and let Joey fight his own fights and learn his own lessons. The elder Logano’s behavior has been not only an embarrassment to himself, but an embarrassment to his son. Cut the cord and let him go Tom – for the sake of Joey.
Joey Logano Aims To Excel Again at Track Too Tough to Tame originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 06 May 2010 23:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.