Joe Gibbs: Logano may run some Cup races this season
By Jeff Gluck - Associate Editor
Sunday, June 15, 2008
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BROOKLYN, Mich. – Joey Logano could be in a Sprint Cup car by the end of the season, team owner Joe Gibbs said Sunday, the day following Logano’s Nationwide Series victory at Kentucky.
“We would like to get him in some Cup stuff toward the end of the year,” Gibbs said. “Now whether we’re going to be able to do it or not ... we want to make sure he’s in good stuff and [do it] the right way.”
That marked somewhat of a leap from last month at Charlotte, when team president J.D. Gibbs said Joe Gibbs Racing would not rush Logano into a Cup ride.
But with Logano’s immediate success, those plans could change.
“With his talent and everything, we’re committed for the long haul and we were just going to take our time,” Joe Gibbs said. “ ... [In Cup testing], every time he gets in there, he’s extremely smooth and handles everything real well. If we could get him in some [Cup races], we’d like to.”
Gibbs said it was unclear when or where Logano could make his debut.
He also said he didn’t see a place for Logano to run full-time at the Cup level next year, given that he had three drivers under contract with three teams – and no plans to expand to a fourth by 2009.
“We’ve always been real cautious about when to add another team, and certainly right now is probably past that point,” Gibbs said. " ... I think that would be extremely hard and difficult for us [this late in the season].”
But what about Tony Stewart, who is considering switching teams? Could his departure open a spot for Logano?
“I don’t think we’ve gone in that direction yet,” Gibbs said. “We’re still hoping we get things worked out.”
As for another of his drivers, Kyle Busch, Gibbs said he would consider asking Busch to trim his hectic Nationwide and truck series schedule if he was in championship contention late in the year.
”I think obviously over here [in Cup] there’s a lot that goes into this, a lot of people count on him,” Gibbs said. “I think that would just be a discussion we would have, and I’m sure it would be a common-sense thing. You wouldn’t want to do anything to run the risk of jeopardizing what we have over here.”
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Joey Logano
Comments
4 responses to "Joe Gibbs: Logano may run some Cup races this season"
emily bagwell said:
Jun 15, 2008 at 4:57 PMRun, Tony, run!!! Never thought I would care what you did, but you're the making of JGR--along with Bobby Labonte who probably should still have a good ride at JGR---Take your money and run to something else like Bobby did and leave it with the " wild thangs"!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportemily bagwell said:
Jun 15, 2008 at 4:58 PMRun, Tony, run!!! Never thought I would care what you did, but you're the making of JGR--along with Bobby Labonte who probably should still have a good ride at JGR---Take your money and run to something else like Bobby did and leave it with the " wild thangs"!
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This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportgrandamgt Russell said:
Jun 17, 2008 at 3:18 AMAnother case of a team rushing a new series driver. Leave him in the Nationwide series to gain experience (I know he won already) and the respect of all the drivers. What's the rush to get him to Cup level. He's only 18!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCecil Scott said:
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:14 PMI hope JGR lets Joey stay in Nationwide for a couple years.I think a couple Nationwide Championship Trophies would look good in the JGR trophy case.
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