As Logano Continues Daytona Media Tour, Has NASCAR Found A Fresh, Young Star?
Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano continued his media tour this morning, appearing live on NBC’s “Today” and discussing off-track confrontations and fights that occasionally occur between drivers. He noted the “stakes are really high” for the drivers and said, “There’s so much on the line each and every week, and when someone keeps you from doing that, tempers fly it seems like. It’s part of sports, it’s part of any competition” (“Today,” NBC, 2/24). Logano appeared on CBS’ “Late Show” last night, where he said, “The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year for us, so being able to take the victory at that place, you get to do cool things like come on the ‘Late Show.’ So I’m having fun with it.” CBS’ David Letterman asked, “Is it Chevy power plant, is that what you’re driving now?” Logano quipped, “No, we’ve got a Ford, the blue oval. Easy. Don’t list the enemy.” Logano said of the final restart and trying to hold on to first place for two more laps, “My team was nervous because they weren’t saying anything. I was just thinking, ‘I just hope I don’t throw up in my helmet’" (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/23). Logano yesterday said after eating a late dinner Sunday night, he was up at 6:30am Monday morning “back at it, doing some media stuff." Logano: "Now we’re up here in New York City doing some more media and then (today) we’ll do some more media. There’s definitely a lot that goes along with this” (“America’s Pregame,” FS1, 2/23).
A STAR IS BORN? ESPN's Michael Wilbon said the debate following Logano's win is whether a new NASCAR "star" was being born. Wilbon asked, "Can he be funny on the late-night talk show circuit? Is he going to do that? Can he threaten to start a couple of fights in the pits? … What’s his personality going to be like week after week after week? We don’t quite know that yet.” ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said, “I suspect it would be better for NASCAR if Dale Earnhardt Jr. had won because he’s the biggest star and that would have given him two in a row” (“PTI,” ESPN, 2/23). But ESPN’s J.A. Adande said it is "better for NASCAR going forward to have a fresh 24-year-old face” in Logano win Daytona (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 2/23).
BUSCH LEAGUE: Fox Sports’ Larry McReynolds said Kurt Busch's domestic violence-related suspension and possible return is a "little different" than the Ray Rice situation that made headlines last fall. With Rice, if the NFL "says you’re good to go, he can go play football.” However, McReynolds noted Busch "has to please NASCAR, he has to oblige them and what they’re looking for," as well as Stewart-Haas Racing co-Owners Gene Haas and Tony Stewart and the "layers and layers of sponsorship." McReynolds: "Does this affect the sponsors for (teammates) Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick? How do they look at it? Because that is Stewart-Haas Racing across the board. That is the challenge, unfortunately, that Kurt is going to have to face” (“NASCAR Race Hub,” FS1, 2/23). Meanwhile, the GLOBE & MAIL's Jeff Pappone writes while NASCAR "probably should have suspended the anger challenged Kurt Busch long ago, it's ironic that the series finally made the right move for the wrong reasons." Busch's career is "filled with anger management issues, including profanity-filled tirades, threats of physical violence against reporters and dangerous driving in the garage area and pitlane." Unfortunately, NASCAR "usually reacted to his previous antics with fines and probation when a suspension may have sent a much needed signal." It is a "sad commentary of NASCAR's discipline system" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/24).
