Roger Penske talks the signing of Joey Logano

Joey Logano was signed to Team Penske on what started as a handshake deal

Joey Logano is the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion driver. He claimed the race win and the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

With the win, Logano brought Team Penske their first title since 2012. However, it’s also the first championship for a Ford since 2004.

Logano’s first several years in NASCAR actually came with Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2008, he made three starts with a best best of 32nd. Two other starts were scheduled, but rain washed out qualifying.

Joey Logano #02 - Joe Gibbs Racing - 2008 NASCAR Cup Series
Joey Logano #02 – Joe Gibbs Racing – 2008 NASCAR Cup Series

Logano ran that year in the #02. The car was an R&D machine that also worked as a driver development machine. It was the reverse of the #20 driven by Tony Stewart. The paint scheme and the number was both reversed.

In 2009, Tony Stewart moved on to form his own race team, Stewart-Haas Racing. Logano would move up to take over the #20 machine. Logano spent his first four years with Joe Gibbs.

In his first full-time season in 2009, he took it to victory lane topping Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace. Ironically, Tony Stewart started on the pole that day. He would venture to victory lane after the race to congratulate his former team on the win.

Joey Logano leads Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
LOUDON, NH – JUNE 28: Joey Logano, driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, drives under caution due to rain during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 28, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. Logano won the rain shortened race with 27 laps remaining. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Roger Penske on signing Joey Logano

Following the 2012 season, Joe Gibbs couldn’t find a sponsor for Logano. Roger Penske had a place for him…

“He’s a tough guy. Brad and I sat down when we had an opening. Joe Gibbs didn’t have a full ride for him in the Cup side,” Roger Penske explained after winning the 2018 NACSRA championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“I talked to Joe [Gibbs]. He said, ‘Will you give me a couple weeks?’ So, I did.”

“Then, he didn’t really have anything for him. So, I thought that he’d be the guy to come to the team. When it’s time to go, he’s the guy.”

“I saw him as a winner. It was the Busch Series, or I don’t remember what it was. But, he was driving for Joe Gibbs and beat Kyle sometimes.”

“I sat down with Joey and his dad. No agents, it was just us sitting down, shaking hands on what we were gonna do. His dad was behind him. He and I have become great friends.”

“Look, these people become part of your family. Helio Castroneves, Rick Mears, Rusty Wallace, Brad Keselowski and Blaney coming up. This is a close knit team and I think that’s why we’re on the top.”

2018 NASCAR champion Joey Logano and NASCAR President Steve Phelps with Team Penske at Homestead-Miami Speedway
HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Todd Gordon

Joey Logano’s crew chief Todd Gordon is also a former driver. He used to race a Limited Modified at Oswego Speedway. How about the crew chief? How did he land at Team Penske?

“We we packed up and moved South, I was just hoping to work in racing. That was back in 1998,” Gordon explained.

“It’s a testament to opportunity. This guy to my right [Roger Penske], he believed in me. I got a shot at the Xfinity program and showed a little bit of promise and got this opportunity.”

“You just gotta keep your head down and good things can happen.”

Joey Logano is the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion
HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
More

Todd Gordon, crew chief for Joey Logano explains why the team appeared to come out of nowhere to win the 2018 title

Joey Logano won the battle and the war

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Joey Logano | Team Penske | Joe Gibbs Racing | Homestead-Miami Speedway | NASCAR

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