NASCAR Dover 2014: Experience paying dividends for Joey Logano

Fresh off a victory a week ago at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that guaranteed advancement to the second round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup and armed with a new multi-year contract, life is good for Joey Logano.

“If you would have told me all of this was gonna happen a couple years ago I would have said, ‘Yeah, that’s nice. I don’t know if that will happen, but it sounds really good,’” Logano said Friday at Dover International Speedway. “But that hard work is paying off now. ... I love that I went through each and every experience that I’ve gone through because that’s what shaped me into who I am and the driver and person that I am now.

“Did I think I’d be sitting here a couple of years ago saying what I’m saying right now? Probably not, but I’m gonna enjoy the ride while I can, that’s for sure.”

It’s a far cry from, 2012 when Logano was jettisoned by Joe Gibbs Racing and staring at an uncertain future following four underwhelming seasons that produced a total of two wins and no playoff bids.

Just 18 when JGR handpicked him to become Tony Stewart’s successor, Logano was ill-prepared. The fact that Stewart won a pair of championships driving the No. 20 JGR car made the pressure all the more prevalent.

While JGR needed a driver who could better replicate Stewart’s production, Logano needed a team where he could be comfortable and escape the pressure of having to mimic a racer considered one of NASCAR’s all-time best.

Enter Team Penske, which on the recommendation of Brad Keselowski, signed Logano to join the organization a year ago. It was a relationship that would flourish.

More comfortable in his surroundings and better experienced, Logano enjoyed a breakout first season with Penske, which included a victory and playoff bid.

“The last couple years have been really good,” Logano said. “I feel like I’ve found myself a home over here.”

Yet as good as 2013 was, 2014 has been even better.

His victory last weekend was Logano’s fourth of the year -- more than double his win total from 2009-13. He has already set career-highs for top-fives and laps led, and is on pace to exceed previous marks for top-10s and average finish.

Sitting second in the standings, a point behind Keselowski, Logano has evolved into a bona fide championship contender. His success was rewarded in the form of a new multi-year contract that will keep him with Penske for the foreseeable future.

“For me personally, I feel like my head is in the right spot,” Logano said. “I feel like we’ve been attacking these weekends in the right way. I feel like Todd (Gordon, crew chief) and myself have been working together better than ever and we need to keep doing that.

“I know I have the guys behind me that have the same attitude as me and want it just as bad as me. That’s why I feel we have a good shot at it.”

What’s propelled Logano’s ascension from the driver who was once considered a disappointment to a driver with realistic title hopes is the same element that used to hinder him: experience.

“A huge advantage that I have right now is that I’m 24 years old with six years of experience under my belt,” Logano said. “That’s awesome. There’s no one else that can say that right now. The rookies coming in aren’t much younger than me and some are the same age as me, so to be able to have that already is something special.

“If you look at the way this sport is typically the peak of their career is six to 15 years into their career is usually when you have that experience. Experience pays off in NASCAR racing more than the age does, so to be able to hit your peak at a younger age possibly I can prolong my career with a lot more wins a little bit longer.”