Future is now for Joey Logano

Joey Logano looks to become the first driver to sweep Pocono since the 2006 season (Getty Images Photo)

LONG POND, Pa. - The good news for Joey Logano is he comes into Sunday's Pennsylvania 400 on the heels of winning last June's race at Pocono Raceway.

The bad news is Sunday's race could be his last Pocono start for Joe Gibbs Racing.

There are no guarantees Logano will return to JGR in 2013 with the addition of Matt Kenseth to the stable, who will join holdovers Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin.

Team president J.D. Gibbs has stated several times the organization would like nothing more than to field a fourth Cup entry next season, but finding sponsorship for that endeavor has been challenging.

So with his future very much in doubt, Logano takes on the difficult task of trying to put the discussion of contracts, sponsors and the business of NASCAR aside while concentrating on doing his current job - driving the Home Depot Toyota.

"I don't think you ever relax and go racing," Logano said. "You need to do what you do best, and all that other stuff is going to come along eventually. During the week [focus] on where the best opportunity is going to be for me."

That opportunity may still be with Gibbs, either in an added Cup ride or perhaps a step back to a full-time Nationwide Series effort. Or it may come with a different organization such as Penske Racing, which needs to fill the seat of the departed AJ Allmendinger for 2013.

What is helping Logano's cause is the maturity he's displaying as a Sprint Cup Series driver. Teammate Hamlin said last week at Pocono that Logano has evolved to the point that his feedback and information is vital to helping the entire JGR organization improve each week.

"That's pretty cool. I never heard him say that, so that's cool," Logano said. "You know, obviously I do everything I possibly can to be the best race car driver I can be and to help our team out as much as we can. I think this year, I have a lot more confidence in myself and my abilities in what we are doing out there. You know, the results show on the racetrack.

"So obviously, you voice your opinion more when you know what you're doing a little bit more."

Logano would like to do a little bit more at Pocono and become the first driver since Hamlin turned the trick in 2006 to sweep both races at the track.

"That would mean a lot," he said. "To win anywhere means a lot. Especially right now in the Chase, but to be able to sweep two races in a season like that at one racetrack, definitely extra cool. Like I said, though, anywhere you win is a good win."

And in Logano's case another trip to victory lane wouldn't hurt whatever lies ahead for his career as well.