Nashville Race Preview
Joey Logano
No. 20 GameStop Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Joey Logano is the defending race winner of the Nashville 300. Logano led 95 laps after starting second on his way to victory last April. He has led 159 laps in two starts at Nashville, which represents more than 35 percent of the total laps. In his first race at Nashville in 2008, he scored his first Nationwide Series pole position in only his second career start in the GameStop Toyota.
What Joey’s Saying: You have a sparkling record at Nashville. Why is that? “Before I ever raced there in the GameStop car, I had a lot of laps in testing (with Joe Gibbs Racing) Cup cars. At both Nashville and Kentucky, I’ve done well because I’ve run so many laps so I know the track really well. And, of course, Joe Gibbs Racing just has an awesome program for the one-and-a-half-mile speedways. Nashville is similar (1.33-mile).”
A lot is made of this being a concrete track instead of asphalt. Does that make a difference for you as a driver? “It makes a bigger difference for the tire guys than the drivers. When it’s green (without a lot of rubber on the surface), it really chews-up the tires. The surface is something I’d think about early in the race if I’m the first driver to move up into the high line. Until you get rubber down, it’s very rough on the tires.”
You won a Nashville Speedway guitar last year. Have you learned to play it? “No, I can’t play it at all! (laughs) It’s on display at Joe Gibbs Racing…”
Ask Joey: Logano will be the featured guest on the NASCAR media teleconference Tuesday afternoon at 1 pm Eastern Time. Media members can find the call-in details at NASCARMedia.com.
Fans can watch the conference live on FOXSports.com. After the media conference, Logano will answer questions submitted by fans via Twitter. Follow @GameStopRacing to submit a question and to learn all of the latest on the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team.
What’s Joey Playing This Week?: The No. 20 GameStop Toyota will carry the colors of “Legends of Zork” at Nashville. The adventure game from Jolt Online Gaming is free to play from any web browser with no download needed. Gamers can find “Legends of Zork” and other online games at GameStop.com.
Just The Stats
Race: Nashville 300
Track: Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn. / 1.33-mile D-shaped oval
Laps: 225 laps, 299.25 miles, Race No. 5 of 35
Date: Saturday, April 3
TV: ESPN, 3:30 pm ET
Qual: Saturday, April 3, 12:05 pm ET
Joey Logano Nationwide Series Statistics
Career Starts: 44
Wins: 6
Poles: 8
Top-5 Fin.: 19
Top-10 Fin: 32
Laps Led: 883
2010 Starts: 3
Best Start: 1 Auto Club Speedway, Feb.
Best Finish: 5 Auto Club Speedway, Feb.
Races Led: 2
Laps Led: 151 Logano leads all Nationwide Series drivers in laps led during 2010.
Points: 12th Despite missing one race, Logano is 12th in points. The No. 20 team is fourth in the team owners points.
Driver Rating: 116.5 Joey ranks second overall in NASCAR’s complex Driver Rating category.
Joey Logano at Nashville Superspeedway
Previous Starts: 2
Best Finish: 1 Logano won the Nashville 300 in April, 2009.
Best Start: 1 Logano’s first career pole came in his second Nationwide Series start in 2008.
Average Start: 1.5 Logano’s worst starting spot at Nashville is second.
Average Fin.: 16
Laps Led: 159 Logano led 95 laps on his way to victory in 2009.
Driver Rating: 126 Logano is the top-rated driver at Nashville in the last four years.
Chassis
Primary: 2093 This is the same chassis Logano drove to victory at Nashville last season.
Back up: 2099
Contact:
Jade Gurss
704-236-1994
|