The 2009 season will bring us just two candidates for Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the Sprint Cup Series. Those candidates are Joey Logano and Scott Speed.
Joey Logano
First up is Joey Logano. Logano is the most-hyped rookie in recent memory. You have probably heard more about Logano in the last six months than you have about any rookie since Dale Earnhardt,Jr.
2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Candidate Joey Logano
Joey Logano was born May 24, 1990 in Middletown, Connecticut. He was nicknamed “Sliced Bread” by former Nationwide Champion, Randy LaJoie. LaJoie’s son, Corey, grew up racing with Logano.
Logano burst onto the NASCAR scene last season after he turned 18, NASCAR’s minimum age to compete in the top three series. He then won his first Nationwide Series race just 21 days later at Kentucky Speedway. With wins in quarter midgets, Bandoleros and Legends as a child to USAR Hooters Pro Cup, Camping World East and ARCA Series as a teenager, Logano has proven he is as good as the hype indicates.
Joey Logano will take over the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry from Tony Stewart in 2009.
Scott Speed
Scott Speed was born January 24, 1983 in Manteca, California. Speed worked his way up through the open wheel career ladder winning national championships in karting before moving on to US Barber Formula Dodge and US Star Mazda Series. Speed continued his climb overseas with 2004 championships in the Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup and German Formula Renault series.
2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Scott Speed
Speed got a taste of the big time in 2005 when he started two Formula One races. He then ran the full season in 2006 and the first ten races of 2007 before disagreements with the team caused a separation.
In all, Speed started 28 Formula One races without scoring a point in the series. Overall Scott Speed performed well in Formula One considering the equipment he had.
Speed found his way back to the U.S. and landed in the ARCA series. In 2008, Scott scored four wins and ended the season third in points. At the same time he started 16 Truck Series events for Bill Davis Racing managing nine top tens and one win.
Speed ended last season with five NASCAR Sprint Cup starts in the Red Bull Racing #84. Speed struggled with his first four starts, not starting better than 33rd or finishing higher than 30th. However, in the season finale in Homestead, Speed started on the outside of the front row, ran near the front most of the day and ended the race with a respectable 16th place finish.
This is the same team that he will race full-time with in 2009. They have simply changed the car number to #82.
The Skinny
Scott Speed brings the most diversified racing resume and experience of the two drivers. He has proven he is a quick learner. Throughout his career he has reached his potential at a rapid pace. He could quickly become the #1 driver at Team Red Bull. And his last name is Speed, go figure.
Joey Logano has also shown to be a quick study. Logano has proven that he isn’t scared to rub fenders with the big boys. He will be the youngest driver to ever qualify for the Daytona 500 at 18 years old. Logano will need to mature quickly to overcome obstacles during his first full-time season in Sprint Cup.
My Prediction
One driver has great skill and experience but is with a second tier team. The other driver is very young, immensely talented, and has the support of a championship-winning crew chief with nearly unlimited resources.
My choice is the latter, Joey Logano, to win the 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. With crew chief Greg Zipadelli’s tutelage, Logano will have a very good season. He should get at least one or two wins in 2009 and may even challenge for a Chase spot near the end of the season.
I hope that both drivers have a safe and competitive season in 2009. I believe they both will have great success in the Sprint Cup Series.
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