There are some race tracks that always hold a special place in a NASCAR driver’s heart. For two-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano, that would be the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Not only did he win his first-ever Cup Series race at this race track, but he even started watching this very sport right from here.
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In the media interaction ahead of the race, Logano mentioned the time when he watched Jeff Gordon race at the track and how meeting him was the “Coolest Freaking thing in the world” for the up-and-coming race car driver. The Connecticut-born driver further elaborated on how this race was the closest thing to calling a home race for him.
Joey Logano mentions why New Hampshire is such a special place for him
Logano stated, “This place has more memories for me than any racetrack I go to. Coming here as a kid, watching the races. I remember watching my first Cup Series race here. We camped up there, behind all the midway over there.”
He further added, “And I always remember that I met Jeff Gordon, thought it was the coolest freaking thing in the world… Got a first win, a couple of wins here. It’s a very special place for me, and it is so close to home. I have so many family friends and everything here. So it’s always been a special one.”
Joey Logano won his first-ever Cup Series race at NHMS
In his first year as a full-time driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2009, Logano clinched his first-ever Cup Series win, driving the #20 car at NHMS.
Tony Stewart initially started the race in the lead. However, as the race went progressed, he started dropping back due to a loose car. Not many had Logano in contention for a win that rainy day. In fact, things had even taken a turn for the worse for him after spinning out at lap 182 after he blew his left rear tire following what seemed to be a contact.
Although, after rejoining the race Logano was handed the ‘Lucky Dog’ award and was placed back onto the lead lap. Thereafter the rain started to close in onto the track and everyone started to pit since they were running low on fuel. By the time the race hit lap 250, Logano was in the 2nd place, right behind Ryan Newman.
But as the rain began to fall while under caution, Newman too had to pit as he was running low on fuel. This gifted the young Logano the lead of the race. Just a couple of laps later on 273 the red flag was brought out and the cars were called into the pit. Thereafter the race did not resume and Logano was handed his first-ever win.
