When Joey Logano first strapped into a NASCAR Cup Series car at just 18 years old, the expectations were sky-high. Dubbed “Sliced Bread” — as in “the best thing since” — by veteran Mark Martin, Logano was touted as the sport’s next generational talent before he ever took a green flag. Now, 16 years later, the kid with the big smile and bigger potential has grown into one of NASCAR’s modern greats.
This weekend, Logano will hit a milestone reserved for the sport’s iron men: his 600th career Cup Series start.
A Journey From Prodigy to Champion
Logano made his Cup debut in 2008 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, driving the No. 96 car as an 18-year-old. The next year, he took over the iconic No. 20 ride at Joe Gibbs Racing, becoming the youngest driver to ever win a Cup race when he triumphed at Loudon in June 2009 at 19 years and 35 days old.
While those early years were filled with flashes of brilliance, they also brought growing pains and skepticism. By the end of the 2012 season, Logano’s future was uncertain — until Team Penske came calling.
The move to Penske in 2013 became the turning point of Logano’s career. Partnered with crew chief Todd Gordon and later Paul Wolfe, he matured into a consistent contender. In 2015, he won a career-best six races. In 2018, Logano silenced any remaining doubters by capturing his first Cup Series championship, beating “The Big Three” (Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr.) at Homestead.
He added a second title in 2022, becoming just the 17th multi-time Cup champion in NASCAR history. Along the way, he earned a reputation as one of the sport’s fiercest competitors, equally capable of playing offense and defense in the high-stakes world of stock car racing.
Building a Legacy
Through 600 starts, Logano’s résumé speaks volumes:
33 Cup wins (as of milestone start) Two Daytona 500 victories (2015, 2023) Three Cup championships (2018, 2022, 2024) Youngest winner in Cup Series history Over 300 top-10 finishes
Off the track, Logano has also built a legacy through the Joey Logano Foundation, supporting youth in crisis and providing second chances to those in need.
Looking Ahead
At 34, Logano is far from done. With a multi-year contract extension at Team Penske and the No. 22 Ford Mustang still one of the fastest in the garage, he’s well positioned to add more wins — and possibly more titles — to his record.
“Six hundred starts is something I never imagined when I first got here,” Logano said this week. “It’s been a heck of a ride so far, but we’re just getting started. I want to keep winning races and championships for a long time.”
From “Sliced Bread” to a seasoned veteran and three-time champion, Joey Logano’s career has been a testament to talent, perseverance, and evolution. As he celebrates 600 starts, NASCAR fans can be certain: there’s still plenty more to come from the driver of the No. 22.
