Best thing since sliced bread? Logano shaping up like it

It may have taken a while in some people's eyes, but Joey Logano is beginning to show the promise most believed he had in NASCAR's top divisions.

Granted, 25th in the Sprint Cup Series standings won't be confused with challenging for a championship, but the rookie driver has shown impressive growth since starting his freshman year back at Daytona.

Team owner J.D. Gibbs hasn't wavered from his belief that Logano has the talent to become a force in this sport.

"I think he's going to be real special, not just for our team, but for the sport for years to come," Gibbs said. "He's got just an amazing future ahead of him."

Things are finally looking up for 19-year-old Joey Logano, who has four top 10s in his last six Cup events. (US Presswire)

While Logano may have had the most hype of any young driver to come into NASCAR in a while, working with raw drivers who carry a lot of potential is certainly nothing new to the Joe Gibbs Racing team.

"We've been through this a few times, when Bobby Labonte came in new, when Tony Stewart came in, then with Denny Hamlin," Gibbs said. "All those guys did real well, and I think Joey is right there with them."

In Gibbs' opinion, Logano is the total package and brings more than simply driving talent and potential to the team.

"I know he's only 19, but his maturity level is of a much older person," Gibbs said. "He does a great job off the track with his sponsor, Home Depot. It's a lot to ask. He's traveling all the time, doing all the media requests, sponsors, there's a lot of obligations. He does it all real effortlessly.

"I think long term, he's going to be a huge asset to JGR. We're looking forward to him being a part of this for years to come."

There was a point early on in his tenure with Gibbs when Logano's future didn't look so bright. Some stumbles at the end of last year when he was given a baptism by fire in the Sprint Cup Series and his slow start out of the gate in 2009 generated rumors of a possible demotion to the Nationwide Series.

But Logano fought through that pressure and, using his newfound experience in the Cup car with his confidence -- and success -- in the Nationwide Series, was able to turn the corner as the season rolled into May.

"I'm getting used to the car, Zippy's [crew chief Greg Zipadelli] getting used to me," Logano said. "Everyone's attitude is just better. Everyone is just more upbeat and more confident that we can do this now."

And perhaps Logano will change the view by naysayers who sneer at his being called 'Sliced Bread.'

"The expectations with it? Yeah, it comes with it," Logano laughed at his infamous nickname. "What the heck. It's something else to live up to. I've got a lot more pressure than just that with me so it doesn't really bother me that much."

Garage chatter

•  Patrick Carpentier will dive Michael Waltrip's No. 55 car at the upcoming road course event at Infineon Raceway, sparking speculation about the future of Waltrip as a full-time Sprint Cup driver in 2010. Waltrip told the media before this season began he would re-evaluate his team and career as a full-time driver in 2009 and that if teammates David Reutimann and Marcos Ambrose 'outperformed' the veteran he'd step out of the car for the good of the team. Carpentier, a road-racing veteran from his open-wheel days, may also take the wheel in August when the circuit visits Watkins Glen.

•  MWR is rumored to be the destination of Martin Truex Jr. in 2010 when his contract expires at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing at the end of this season. Truex Jr.'s brother, Ryan, is a developmental driver for Waltrip's team and there does seem to be some sentiment to bringing the former Nationwide Series champion over as either a fourth car or to drive the No. 55 if the owner decides to hang up his helmet.

•  Chrysler's problems have crept into the NASCAR garage with Richard Petty Motorsports forced to lay off nine employees this week in the wake of the troubled manufacturer cutting back its support of the four-car team. RPM also farmed out its planned limited Nationwide Series effort this week to Braun Racing, which fields Toyotas, a move that has sparked speculation whether the Petty operation may join the Japanese manufacturer's lineup in the future.

•  Roger Penske reports there are no problems with his Dodge-supported Sprint Cup team and at this time there are no plans to change manufacturers. Penske also shot down rumors of the organization fielding a fourth Sprint Cup Series team in 2010.

•  Tire testing continues at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for next month's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in hopes of preventing the issues that marred last year's race. Advanced ticket sales for the July 26th event are reportedly lagging big time compared to recent years.