Joey Logano 2013 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2012 Stats: Points Finish 17th, 1 Win, 2 Top Fives, 12 Top Tens, Average Running Position 16.7, Average Finish 17.4, Laps Led 190, Driver Rating 79.4
Strengths- Joey Logano was really good at flat tracks last year. I expect that trend to continue in 2013. He also performs well at road courses and restrictor plate tracks.
Weaknesses- Joey Logano needs to improve at intermediate tracks. They make up nearly half the season and he’s only been a mid pack driver at those tracks. He also needs to get better at short tracks.
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Intermediate Track Grade- B-, Being good on this track type is of utmost importance. For a driver to succeed in a meaningful way in NASCAR’s top series they need to thrive at these venues. On this track type Logano has proven to be a mid pack driver. Last season he had five top tens and a 17.1 average finish (17th best). In only eight of these seventeen races he finished in the top fifteen. Unless the Generation Six Car races like a Nationwide Car I think his 2013 results will be similar. I don’t think a change of scenery will have an impact.
Flat Track Grade- B, Logano was one of the best flat track racers last season. On this track type he scored the 12th most points. If it wasn’t for the Jeff Gordon – Clint Bowyer incident at Phoenix and a crash at Indy he likely would’ve been around a top five driver last season. All of his other finishes at these venues were in the top 14. It’s also important to mention that Logano had a breakthrough win at Pocono last year. That win helped to finally legitimize himself in the top series.
Short Track Grade- B-, Last season Logano scored the 20th most points in the series at these tracks. His season highlight on this track type was at Bristol in August when he finished 8th and led 139 laps. The significance of that race for him on this track type was that it was his only top ten and the only race he led any laps (139). In terms of using him in a fantasy NASCAR league I can’t recommend Logano at these tracks. At Martinsville he has two top tens and at Bristol and Richmond he only has one top ten. His respective average finishes are 22.1 (Bristol), 15.3 (Martinsville) and 19.1 (Richmond). I don’t think the team switch will hurt him at these venues but it’s important to note that Joe Gibbs Racing arguably makes the best short track cars.
Restrictor Plate Track Grade- B+, Joey Logano has an interesting recent track record at these wild card venues. In the last three races at Daytona he’s finished in the top ten. Those are his only top tens there. In the last three races at Talladega he’s finished 24th or worse. In four out of his five previous races there he finished in the top ten. I think the team switch could potentially help Joey Logano. Lots of variables are changing next season but the Ford engine has proven to be superior at these tracks.
Road Course Track Grade- B+, Joey Logano must’ve become ambidextrous because in recent years he’s emerged as one the better drivers at road courses. In 2011 he scored the 2nd most points in the series at these venues and last season he had respectable performances. In 2012 at Infineon he finished 10th and at Watkins Glen he finished 32nd. In that race he was running in the top 13 but had some sort of problem and was in the garage by lap #34. I think his team switch might actually help him at these tracks. Penske cars aren’t slouches at these places.
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How to use from a Fantasy NASCAR Perspective in 2013? I would focus on using Logano at plate tracks, road courses, flat tracks and at intermediate tracks when he gets the ifantasyrace.com weekend content seal of approval.
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