Joey Logano, now renowned for his Joey Logano racing career, once found himself split between the ice rink and the racetrack. His journey from playing hockey as a youth to becoming a two-time NASCAR Cup champion unfolded as a series of tough decisions shaped by his passion and scheduling conflicts.
Balancing Hockey Dreams and Racing Ambitions
Starting his Cup career with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, Logano’s rise to stardom did not take full flight until he joined Team Penske five years later. Throughout his young life, he admired figures like Joe Gibbs and even rooted for the Washington Redskins due to Gibbs’ longtime affiliation with the franchise. Although football never captured his interest, hockey was a significant part of Logano’s early years.
Dividing his time between hockey practice and the pursuit of racing, Logano soon realized that keeping up with both was unsustainable. He began missing practices and games for his hockey team, leading to friction with his teammates and making it clear a choice was inevitable.
Deciding Between the Rink and the Racetrack
Logano’s conflicting commitments reached a head, forcing a decision about his future. As he openly admitted in a 2009 interview,
“It was one or the other. I missed half my hockey games, and then my team started to not like me because I was never there. So I said screw it, I’m going racing. I felt like it was the better decision… I think it worked out pretty good (smiles). I was never going to be a Sidney Crosby or anything.”
—Joey Logano, Driver
From that moment, he set aside hockey and dedicated himself fully to the pursuit of motorsports, recognizing he was unlikely to match the talents of hockey greats like Sidney Crosby. His competitive spirit and focus would become hallmarks of his racing path.
The Early Years: Trial and Error with Other Sports
Logano’s attempts at other activities, such as baseball, quickly proved unsuccessful. He described his efforts as lackluster and found himself excelling mainly at racing. Despite having fun playing hockey and showing improvement, the sport lacked the spark that kept him motivated long-term.
His eventual commitment to racing stemmed not from a single eye-opening moment, but from a combination of family support and a growing sense that the racetrack was where he belonged.
Learning the Ropes Alongside Family
Logano’s father played a crucial role at this pivotal stage, purchasing a quarter midget so Joey could explore his passion. Both father and son had much to learn about the mechanics of racing, so they undertook the journey together, building their knowledge from scratch. This hands-on education and shared experience helped Logano develop both confidence and competence behind the wheel.
With each passing season, his proficiency became more apparent, and mentors, including those from organizations like Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing, began to take note of his talent and commitment.
The Drive Toward a Professional Future
Rather than a single turning point, Logano’s certainty grew gradually as he committed to each step along the developmental ladder. He poured his energy into the pursuit, convinced that his long-held dream could become reality if he remained persistent.
This determination ultimately transformed his early interest into a professional career, proving to himself and his family that the difficult decision to walk away from hockey in favor of racing was the right one. As he continues competing at the sport’s highest level, Logano’s journey serves as an example of how focusing on a true calling can reshape the course of a young athlete’s life.
