To Race or When to Race, That is the Question
Apparently NASCAR is considering a rule that would limit Sprint Cup drivers only to those who have reached their 21st birthday. It was only recently that an age limit of 18 was imposed on the ruling body’s three major touring series: Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck.
It was only recently that it became an issue.
On the one hand, an additional age restriction seems reasonable. There’s some concern that the youth movement – it began with Jeff Gordon’s arrival to Cup, way back in 1993 (he actually debuted in the final race of ’92) -- has gone too far. On the other, recent years have shown that some rare talents – Kyle Busch comes to mind immediately – are ready to race long before they’re eligible to drink.
Most major teams now have elaborate driver-development programs in place. They’re all free agents, though. If there were such a thing as a NASCAR draft, the likely top pick would probably be Joey Logano, who has been labeled a can’t-miss future star by no less an authority than Mark Martin since Logano was at an age where he probably wished he had a need to shave.
Discussing the proposal for a further age limit, Martin shrugged his shoulders and said he thought Logano, who won’t turn 18 until May 24, was ready for Cup right now. Logano, from Middletown, Conn., is scheduled to debut in the Nationwide Series on May 31 at Dover.
Logano is a young man in a hurry. When asked about having to wait until he turns 21, his perpetually smiling face betrayed a slightly pained look.
“Whatever NASCAR says, goes,” he said. “Whatever they say will be fine.”
The proposal – during last week’s Sprint Media Tour, it wasstill in the “trial-balloon stage” – may or may not become official.
“If not for Mark Martin, I wouldn’t be here,” said Logano. “All sports are full of pressure. If you can live up to it, it’s all the better.”
An 18-year-old can become an NBA star, but maybe baseball’s got it right. Most of its future stars are still in the minor leagues at that age.
As he awaits his Nationwide debut (pun intended), Logano is still way ahead of the curve.
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