Joey Logano on NASCAR Cup challenges took center stage as the three-time Cup champion discussed the evolving landscape of the sport and why he believes upcoming racer Connor Zilisch will have an easier path than he did. Logano, who began competing in the Cup Series as a teenager, compared his experiences to those awaiting Zilisch, a 19-year-old racing standout from Mooresville, North Carolina, set to join the series full-time in 2026.
Changing Dynamics for Young Stars Entering NASCAR
Logano reflected on his own start in top-level stock car competition, emphasizing the unique difficulties he faced as one of the only young newcomers at the time.
“I was pretty much the only rookie for the first seven or eight years of my career,”
—Joey Logano, Cup Champion
According to Logano, a significant age divide separated him from the established drivers he competed against during his early years.
“I was going up against guys that had been there a long time. There was a big age gap there.”
—Joey Logano, Cup Champion
This large span in experience made Logano’s initial years in the premier racing series more challenging than what younger drivers may encounter now.
Adapting to New Technology and Equipment
The vehicles themselves were just one part of the challenge for Logano. Entering Cup competition in 2009 at Joe Gibbs Racing, he arrived at a time when cars were markedly different and more difficult to master, offering little margin for error.
“Harder to get your head wrapped around.”
—Joey Logano, Cup Champion
Recalling his rookie season, Logano pointed out how distinct the NASCAR cars were at the time, unlike the current generation which appears more uniform and approachable for drivers transitioning from other categories. He said today’s Cup cars are friendlier to talent coming in from diverse racing backgrounds.
“What you see today, we didn’t see back then with the old car whether it’s road courses or someone like Shane (van Gisbergen) can jump right in and take off. You didn’t really see that much with the old car because they were very finicky, they were very unique. There wasn’t another car like it.”
—Joey Logano, Cup Champion
Modern Advantages for the Next Generation
Another area Logano noted was the technological advancements now available to young drivers such as Zilisch. While simulation and advanced data systems are now standard, these assets were largely absent when Logano first entered the series. He believes Zilisch’s learning curve, by comparison, will be less steep thanks to these resources.
Learning Curves and the Importance of Team Support
Despite acknowledging that every team and driver presents unique challenges, Logano credited his own early struggles in part to his personal development as a leader and a young racer coping with high expectations.
“Every team is gonna be a little different … every driver is different,”
—Joey Logano, Cup Champion
Logano admitted that aspects of his own maturity hindered his ability to assert leadership and instill confidence in his team at the outset.
“A lot of it is you’ve got to have the right people around you at the right times. That team that I started with would have been great at this time of my career, but as a rookie, it was not.”
—Joey Logano, Cup Champion
As he joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2009, just shy of his 19th birthday, he replaced Tony Stewart, who went on to partner with Gene Haas to create Stewart Haas Racing. Logano achieved his first career win at New Hampshire in his rookie year but went without another victory until 2012 at Pocono.
Career Progression and Team Changes
After his tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing, which ended in 2012, Logano’s fortunes changed following a pivotal recommendation from Brad Keselowski, then a Team Penske driver, who persuaded Roger Penske to bring Logano on board. Moving to Team Penske in 2013, Logano triumphed at Michigan during his first year with his new organization. He went on to achieve five wins in 2014 and six in 2015, capturing his first Cup championship in 2018.
Current Standings and the Road Ahead
Logano’s journey has now brought him to another crossroads. Entering the second playoff race this year at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois, the Connecticut native finds himself three points below the cutline, making his next performance critical for advancing in the championship fight.
The stories of Joey Logano and Connor Zilisch illustrate both the evolution of NASCAR and the different challenges faced by young drivers entering the Cup Series today. With more supportive structures and advanced technologies, rising competitors like Zilisch may see their adjustment to the top ranks smoothed compared to predecessors, while the lessons and perspectives shared by seasoned champions will continue to shape the sport’s future.
