[vincesanity82]

In an era where the term Young Gun is beginning to fade as NASCAR's Cup series is being flooded with escapees from the Indy Racing League, there is one "Young Gun" on the horizon who is about to smoke em' all. Sure Fire, Can't Miss, the Jeff Gordon of the next decade may be a lanky 17 year old from Middletown, Connecticut, Joey Logano. The young man has had his driver's license for just over a year now, and being the typical teenager, still has to check with mom or dad when he's going out at night with his buddies, but driving is nothing new to the youngster. He began racing quarter midgets when he was six years old. -- Journal Press - (King George, VA)

http://www.journalpress.com/default....lpress&he=.com

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

In an era where the term Young Gun is beginning to fade as NASCAR's Cup series is being flooded with escapees from the Indy Racing League, there is one "Young Gun" on the horizon who is about to smoke em' all. Sure Fire, Can't Miss, the Jeff Gordon of the next decade may be a lanky 17 year old from Middletown, Connecticut, Joey Logano. The young man has had his driver's license for just over a year now, and being the typical teenager, still has to check with mom or dad when he's going out at night with his buddies, but driving is nothing new to the youngster. He began racing quarter midgets when he was six years old. -- Journal Press - (King George, VA)

http://www.journalpress.com/default....lpress&he=.com

He certainly has the media machine pushing his stardom. Auto racing seems to be full of savant-like prodigies these days. Started racing at six? Maybe before I go room temperature I'll see the day when they report the next rising star decided he/she would race in NA__AR while they were still in the womb? (Yeah. That was sarcasm)

I'm going to go waaaay out on a limb here and predict that unless he does a "Shane Hmiel," or punches out Brian France, his future in NA__AR is pretty much a done deal.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

He certainly has the media machine pushing his stardom. Auto racing seems to be full of savant-like prodigies these days. Started racing at six? Maybe before I go room temperature I'll see the day when they report the next rising star decided he/she would race in NA__AR while they were still in the womb? (Yeah. That was sarcasm)

I'm going to go waaaay out on a limb here and predict that unless he does a "Shane Hmiel," or punches out Brian France, his future in NA__AR is pretty much a done deal.

I would say that his future as far as getting INTO NASCAR may be a done deal but there have been other drivers who have entered NASCAR with great credentials but never really amounted to to a whole lot. I'll wait and reserve judgment to when he actually arrives on the scene.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I would say that his future as far as getting INTO NASCAR may be a done deal but there have been other drivers who have entered NASCAR with great credentials but never really amounted to to a whole lot. I'll wait and reserve judgment to when he actually arrives on the scene.

Never doubt the influence of the media, Steve.

The only highly touted kid drivers I can think of who came to NA__AR in the past decade and flopped were Donny Ray, Casey Atwood and the jury is out on Eric Almirola. Ray never got hooked up with a quality team. Atwood got thrown under the bus by Evernham and Jim Smith. Eric's path looked pretty good until Gibbs picked up Logano and <poof!> there went a career. Yanking him out of the seat at Milwaukee last year shows the kind of driver loyalty J.D. Gibbs is capable of. (read: N-O-N-E!)

I'd expand on this theme but I have to got take my anti-cynicism pill.

[LSC9901]

I look at guys like Jamie McMurray and wonder what happened to him. 2003 rookie of the year and only 2 wins in his career ???? Maybe not a total failure but I can't see where he has lived up to even his own expectations. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against Jamie but I just can't see where he has lived up to any great hype.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I look at guys like Jamie McMurray and wonder what happened to him. 2003 rookie of the year and only 2 wins in his career ???? Maybe not a total failure but I can't see where he has lived up to even his own expectations. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against Jamie but I just can't see where he has lived up to any great hype.

If you remember, Steve, Jamie created his own hype by winning the fall Charlotte race in his second time out. Until then he had had no real success in BGN driving the William's car and when Sterling was forced to stop and Ganassi/Sabates brought McNurray up, everyone was asking "Who the Hell is this kid?"

I don't remember Jamie as being a media darling until after he won that race.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

If you remember, Steve, Jamie created his own hype by winning the fall Charlotte race in his second time out. Until then he had had no real success in BGN driving the William's car and when Sterling was forced to stop and Ganassi/Sabates brought McNurray up, everyone was asking "Who the Hell is this kid?"

I don't remember Jamie as being a media darling until after he won that race.

Jamie became the media darlin after that race and it was nice for that time period, and it was the next season he became crash mcmurray. Not so nice a story.

I'm with Steve on this, I'll wait til he arrives and shows us somethin

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Jamie became the media darlin after that race and it was nice for that time period, and it was the next season he became crash mcmurray. Not so nice a story.

I'm with Steve on this, I'll wait til he arrives and shows us somethin

I'm actually with you but DO NOT underestimate the power of the media. If this kid becomes a media darling, he will not completely fail. Look at, for example, Mikey and Kenny Wallace. Nothing more than mediocre Cup-level talent but the media will NOT allow them to disappear.

More examples? Look at these primaries they are currently subjecting us to. The media has decreed that the DEM's absolutely will select from Shrillary, B. Husain Obama or Edwards. seldom do you hear the name Chris Dodd.
The media has, likewise, mandated that the only viable choices are Huckabee, Gulianni, Romney, and McCain. Thompson shows up every so often, but Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter are just white noise.

I repeat, never underestimate the power of the media. IF it decides Logano will sell lots of copy, they'll ram him down our collective throats and make him a popular household name and then he can not fail.

(Note to self: Have the Dr. up the doseage on the anti-cynical pills. They ain't workin'.)

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I'm actually with you but DO NOT underestimate the power of the media. If this kid becomes a media darling, he will not completely fail. Look at, for example, Mikey and Kenny Wallace. Nothing more than mediocre Cup-level talent but the media will NOT allow them to disappear.

More examples? Look at these primaries they are currently subjecting us to. The media has decreed that the DEM's absolutely will select from Shrillary, B. Husain Obama or Edwards. seldom do you hear the name Chris Dodd.
The media has, likewise, mandated that the only viable choices are Huckabee, Gulianni, Romney, and McCain. Thompson shows up every so often, but Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter are just white noise.

I repeat, never underestimate the power of the media. IF it decides Logano will sell lots of copy, they'll ram him down our collective throats and make him a popular household name and then he can not fail.

(Note to self: Have the Dr. up the doseage on the anti-cynical pills. They ain't workin'.)

Cynical but true... look at the way it crams Hendricks down are throat, and Hendricks really don't need it to do so.

[3fanforever]

It's always been my opinion that a "prodigy" driver comes along in decades, not years, if that makes any sense. The last "prodigy" driver was Jeff Gordon. Everyone else who's come into NASCAR since Gordon has not equaled his record. And for a "prodigy" driver to succeed like Gordon did, all the stars have to align, if that makes sense too. They did for Jeff... right driver, right equipment, right sponsor, right team, and right owner. Having said all that, it's getting about time for another one to come along. Maybe Lagano is that kid. But that's a tall order to fill these days I think. And I'm not even sure it can be done again.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

(Note to self: Have the Dr. up the doseage on the anti-cynical pills. They ain't workin'.)

While you're at it Bob see if he can give you some reality pills also. Maybe we look at the media in two different lights. The reason (in my estimation) that Mikey is even remotely famous is due to his work with NAPA. Were he not doing those commercials he would be as popular as Kevin Lepage. If you meant Mike Wallace then again it is about commercials. If it weren't for his cousin Warren, then Mike would be unheard of. Kenny is jammed down our collective throats by Speed. I guess by media attention, I refer to what is written about them in their actual racing /personal life exploits. Generally that is a bit less scripted than an insurance commercial.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

While you're at it Bob see if he can give you some reality pills also. Maybe we look at the media in two different lights. The reason (in my estimation) that Mikey is even remotely famous is due to his work with NAPA. Were he not doing those commercials he would be as popular as Kevin Lepage. If you meant Mike Wallace then again it is about commercials. If it weren't for his cousin Warren, then Mike would be unheard of. Kenny is jammed down our collective throats by Speed. I guess by media attention, I refer to what is written about them in their actual racing /personal life exploits. Generally that is a bit less scripted than an insurance commercial.

We're a couple of blind men trying to describe an elephant, Steve.

Mikey used as an announcer, commentator, shill... Kenny being rammed down our throats by SPEED (I like that description; "rammed") All courtesy of our faithful media. Mike Wallace is the only one who doesn't make me want to tear out my ear drums whenever I hear his dulcet tones.