Logano driving Nationwide 20, but hoping for Cup 20

MADISON, Ill. -- Joey Logano makes no secret of his desire to drive the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota next season -- in the Sprint Cup Series.

If team owner Joe Gibbs and president J.D. Gibbs offer Logano the No. 20 Sprint Cup car Tony Stewart will leave at the end of the season, there is no question as to what Logano's answer will be.

Eyes on Logano

Joey Logano is one name that immediately pops to mind when it comes to a possible replacement for Tony Stewart.

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• Logano part of JGR future

"If they offer it to me, I'd take it," said Logano, competing in the Nationwide Series for the first time in a month Saturday at Gateway International Raceway. "It's something that has been talked about, but I'm not in a position to say anything. I don't really know what I'm going to do yet. Like I said before, I'm focused on the No. 20 Nationwide car right now, and from there, that is Joe and J.D.'s deal."

Not that Logano, 18, thought his rise to NASCAR's highest level would be so meteoric, but Stewart's decision to leave Gibbs in favor of a partnership in newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing opens a window of opportunity for the racing prodigy.

"I definitely think it's a cool thing to even have your name in the hat on that one," Logano said. "It's a great team and a great car. The car has won two championships with Tony driving it. The whole team has been together for so long, and to be driving any car for Joe Gibbs Racing right now would be great.

"I'm just trying to make the best of my opportunities now. The only thing I've got set in stone right now is this Nationwide car, so I'll make the best of it."

If there's a cautionary note for Logano to heed, he need look no farther than the starting grid at Gateway and Casey Atwood, who lined up for his first race in any of NASCAR's top three series this year.

Still the youngest pole winner in Nationwide Series history -- at age 17 at Nashville in 1998 -- Atwood won once in the series before his 19th birthday in 1999 and a second time a month after turning 19. Until Logano won from the pole June 14 at Kentucky Speedway, Atwood also had held the record as youngest race winner in series history.

Atwood finished eighth in the Nationwide standings in 2000, a performance that earned him a full-time Cup ride with Evernham Motorsports in 2001. In a classic case of too much too soon, however, Atwood was 26th in points in 2001, 35th in 2002 and out of the ride in 2003.

Since 2004, when he competed in 29 Nationwide races in Terry Bradshaw's Chevrolet, Atwood's career has consisted of sporadic starts in NASCAR's Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series.

Saturday night marked the first time Atwood, now 27, and Logano have lined up together for a Nationwide race.