NI Top 25: Joey Logano looking forward to fresh start with new crew chief
Joey Logano hopes to rebound in 2012. // LaDon George, NASCAR Illustrated
Editor’s note: SceneDaily is counting down NASCAR Illustrated’s Top 25 drivers for 2012.
NI Ranking: 21st
DOB: May 24, 1990 (21)
Marital Status: Single
Hometown: Middletown, Conn.
Resides: Huntersville, N.C.
Cup Starts: 111
Team: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff
Heading into the 2011 season, Joey Logano seemed to be making steady progress in his short Sprint Cup career.
After finishing 20th in the point standings two years ago, he moved up to 16th in 2010.
Last year, however, Logano regressed and finished 24th.
Before leaving to become the competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing, Greg Zipadelli, Logano’s former crew chief at JGR, said he knew the problem.
“We struggled with the tire used on the intermediate ovals,” Zipadelli said. “The other places, we’ve been better.”
Logano’s results last year on the 1.5-mile tracks don’t fully support Zipadelli’s theory, however. Excluding intermediate ovals and Logano’s three DNFs, his average finish in the 23 other races was 17.1. In the 10 races Logano finished at the intermediate ovals, his average finish wasn’t much worse — 18.7.
The only place Logano didn’t struggle was at the two road courses, where his average finish was 5.5. And he wasn’t bad at the restrictor-plate tracks, where his average finish was 15th.
To improve this season, Logano needs to find a lot of speed at the short tracks, intermediate ovals and the 2-mile tracks. Because another poor season won’t help him keep his ride.
What could make the difference is improved chemistry, and the team worked to address that issue during the offseason. Zipadelli has moved on and JGR promoted Nationwide Series crew chief Jason Ratcliff to work with Logano.
It could be just what Logano needs to right his Sprint Cup career.
“I’m really pumped up about having Jason as my crew chief,” Logano said. “He is an awesome guy and we had a chance to work together over on the Nationwide side for three races last season.
“Being able to work with him is a good, fresh start for our team. It’s going to be a good thing for us. It was time to do something after the type of year we had. This was a mutual deal that I think will help us out in the long run. We had to move on and now we need to work hard and go out and start winning.”
With the crew chief change coming nearly a month after the conclusion of the season, Logano’s team is off to a late start. But because Ratcliff is familiar with the surroundings, he should be able to jump right in and get started.
“We should have a lot of success going forward,” Ratcliff said. “I’m excited about working with the No. 20 team. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m confident in the team and in Joey.
Pros
After three years on the circuit, he knows the tracks and should have a good idea of what he needs in a car. Changing crew chiefs should be a boost and get Logano headed in the right direction.
Cons
Logano might be just a 20th-place talent — especially on the current Goodyear tire, which seems to have thrown him for a loop. Will he still have a job at JGR if he doesn’t perform in 2012?
Fantasy Prediction
Does well at Charlotte, Loudon and Talladega and he’s been surprisingly competitive at Martinsville. Still looking for his first top-10s at Atlanta, Bristol, Chicago, Homestead, Kansas and Pocono.
From The Pits
“One has to wonder what Joey Logano’s future holds if he has another dismal season. Crew chief Jason Ratcliff has the credentials, but it always comes down to the chemistry. If it works, you will see the results before long.” —Wally Dallenbach, TNT
–For a complete look at NASCAR Illustrated’s Top 25, see the February issue on newsstands now.
