Joey Logano has rebuilt career and Team Penske organization while racing to 3rd NASCAR title

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two wins in four seasons at Joe Gibbs Racing certainly didn’t get the job done for Joey Logano, not after replacing Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and entering NASCAR with the nickname “Sliced Bread” because you’re allegedly the next best thing.

He knew his days with Gibbs were winding down in 2012, the same time Roger Penske found himself in need of a driver. It was then-Penske driver Brad Keselowski who introduced the team owner to Logano. Keselowski was convinced the 23-year-old could still be as good as predicted with a change of scenery.

Keselowski was right: Logano joining Team Penske changed the entire organization. It only happened, Penske believes, because the organization pledged its support to Logano at his lowest career moment.

 

“I think first he had to shake off some of the reputation he had. They called him “Sliced Bread” I think it was, or whatever it was,” said Penske. “But he shook that off pretty quickly. We were behind him, and I think that was key, and he just grew and grew and grew.”

Logano has taken his second chance with a top-tier NASCAR team and become a star of the series. He will be feted Friday night at the season-ending awards ceremony for winning his third Cup Series title; Logano is now the the only active three-time champion in NASCAR and one of only 10 drivers in history to win three or more titles.