Joey Logano, who finished the Cup season 20th in points with one win, was also the youngest driver to earn the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award and became the youngest Cup winner when he won the rain-shortened June 28 race in Loudon, N.H.
He beat out veteran open-wheel and sports car racer Max Papis and former Formula One driver Scott Speed for the honor.
“It’s really cool to get the Raybestos award. That’s something you only get one shot at,” he said.
He will share a $114,000 top rookie bonus with his team along with the $5.3 million he won in Cup races.
“Sweet. I didn’t know the Rookie of the Year award paid that much,” Logano continued. “Wow, maybe I can buy the car I’ve been wanting.”
He has been modest throughout his first full Cup season after being elevated to replace Tony Stewart in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota when Stewart announced his plans late last year to start his own team.
“If Tony hadn’t left, I probably would have run a full (NASCAR) Nationwide Series this season with maybe some Cup races at the end of the year,” said Logano.
He won five of the 22 Nationwide races he entered.
Racing Trivia Question: What year did Mark Martin first compete in the Cup series?
Last Week’s Question: Where is the NASCAR Hall of Fame going to be located?
Answer: Charlotte, N.C. It will open in May 2010.