1st NASCAR Win -Joey Logano NHMS LENOX301

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I want to congratulate Joey Logano & his Home Depot #20 Team with their very first NASCAR Sprint Cup win, with the rookie at the wheel, for Loudon NH, Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Race at NHMS. Joe Gibbs Racing must be so proud of the Home Depot Team led by Crew Chief, Greg Zipadelli in the rain shortened race. There were over 10 cautions during this race. Do you remember the races held here were no more than follow the leader, when you had time between laps to visit the concessions and return and not miss any action? Double file restarts, pit stop strategy, & fuel management surely have sparked much excitement. This just may be the boost NASCAR needs to attain what it had in the past. NASCAR was and will be the #1 spectator sport in the world. Slumping ticket sales and the decline of sponsor donations have been of great concern with all the teams. This is a family spectator sport that has endured this kind of difficulty before.

I want to reflect back several years ago when I had the opportunity to know and be a part of an amateur racing team with a young driver, (who we'll call RZ). He had so much spirit and drive, much of what i can see in Joey Logano. RZ would, with us, maintain and build his own race cars with a mock crew of close friends, his son, & myself. He was a driving force inspiring me and the rest of the team. We had little or no money to perform any of these tasks. We somehow found a way with RZ as our inspiration. RZ had a dream to become a professional driver. I have since lost touch with him but I hope he succeeds. Although I have not had the opportunity to meet the Home Depot Team, I do believe I can see that same kind of desire & determination in Joey Logano.

What about running these races in the rain...??? I get that question over and over from peeps not familiar with Stock Car Racing. I ask, what about Professional Baseball? I just tell them to read up ... look at Goodyear Tire Co. http://bit.ly/sHr6Z .