Joey Logano credits Mark Martin for his NASCAR career, says he ‘wouldn’t be sitting here today’ if not for the Hall of Famer

Team Penske Racing driver Joey Logano has pointed out that he owns big-time to legendary driver Mark Martin for his success. Logano is one of the greatest drivers of his generation and is the only active multiple times Cup champion. His former teammate turned rival Kyle Busch is the only other multi-time champion. Both drivers have won two titles each.

The 33-year-old made his Cup debut in 2008 with Joe Gibbs Racing and started his full-time career with the Toyota team in 2009. He remained with the team till 2013 before landing at Roger Penske’s team. 2023 marks his 10^th year with the Ford team. He has made 528 starts, scoring 32 wins and 278 top-10 finishes, alongside the 2018 and 2022 championships.  

Logano, who holds the record for the youngest race winner in Cup and Xfinity series races, pointed out that he owes his success to NASCAR legend Mark Martin. He said in a recent episode of NASCAR’s Untold Stories, “It’s so interesting how that all played out with Mark and how much he helped me in my career. I wouldn’t be sitting here today if it wasn’t for Mark Martin.”

Logano and Martin first cross paths when the legendary driver purchased the now-champion’s elite model car for his son. Their connection grew gradually when Logano attempted to strike a deal with Roush Performance. During this period, Logano and Martin tested old cup cars in regional short track. The young Logano always tried to outpace Martin, which he couldn’t, but he proved he was talented.

“We’d go to local short tracks that were nearest. I went down there with him, and we ran two days of testing…I think I was 14, running this Cup car out there, and I couldn’t go as fast as Mark, and I was so frustrated, and I remember just like so clearly, he came up behind me, and I’m 14, so all I can do, even though it’s a test, I’m like, ‘I gotta keep Mark behind me.’” Logano said.

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Mark Martin knew Joey Logano would be a NASCAR champion after seeing him race at the age of 10

Martin, while talking about his relationship with Logano on the same program, pointed out that he knew when Logano was just ten years old that he would become a NASCAR champion. Logano is convinced he has the skill and ability to be one of the all-time greatest with his meteoric rise at a very young age.

Martin first witnessed Logano’s greatness in the legend car races, which, according to him, one of the toughest cars to drive. He saw the future champion dominating the race against adults, and it was more than enough for Martin to think to himself that he had a prodigy in his hands. Martin has fulfilled his championship dream with Logano, as despite winning 49 Cup races, he never got the gold.

“I saw Joey race legend cars, which are the hardest things in the world to drive. I think at 10 years old, racing in the pro division. I’m talking about the grown-ups. I saw him whip them, and I was like… ‘He’s gonna be a NASCAR champion. He’s going to be a Cup champion.’ I knew it from the time he was ten years old,” Martin said.

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