18-year-old may get a chance with Gibbs team

BROOKLYN, Mich.

Car owner Joe Gibbs says the team hopes to run 18-year-old Joey Logano in some Sprint Cup races later this season.

Logano won Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway in just his third series start. He also became the youngest series winner.

His nickname is "Sliced Bread," suggesting that Logano is the best thing since that invention. Gibbs admits the talent matches the hype.

"He's been in a Cup car a bunch (for testing) and, every time he gets in there, he's extremely smooth and seems to handle everything real well," Gibbs said. "If we could get him in some (Cup races), we'd like to at the end of this year."

Logano's development could play a key role in what Joe Gibbs Racing does should Tony Stewart leave the team. Stewart said earlier this year he has entertained offers to drive elsewhere. One offer includes partial ownership of Haas CNC Racing. Although Stewart said recently he's moving closer to a decision, nothing has been set.

Should Stewart leave, it could allow Gibbs to promote Logano to Stewart's seat. Should Stewart remain, Gibbs will need to add a fourth car to move Logano to Cup.

While Logano has limited race experience in the Nationwide Series, Gibbs said he thinks Logano can handle Cup.

"Denny (Hamlin) kind of changed my mind," Gibbs said of young drivers with limited NASCAR experience. "Denny came out of late models and, one year later, we said, 'Should we put him in a Cup car?' He jumped into the Cup car and took off and the rest is history.

"With some young guys, they've got that kind of talent that doesn't come along very often."

SCALING BACK

Kyle Busch said on TNT's pre-race show he won't race a Nationwide car next weekend in Milwaukee. The Cup series is in Sonoma, Calif.; getting back and forth is taxing on drivers.

Busch also mentioned he won't compete in the Nationwide event at Memphis, which is the same October weekend when the Cup series is in Atlanta. Busch said he's cutting back his schedule because he's too far back to win the Nationwide title.

AWAITING WORD

Car owner Roger Penske said he has not had any conversations with Alltel officials since the recent announcement that Verizon will buy Alltel, a deal that could force Penske to find another sponsor.

NASCAR officials indicate that Verizon won't be able to replace Alltel as sponsor for Ryan Newman's car. Only wireless companies already in the sport were allowed to remain when Nextel, which later became Sprint, took over as series sponsor.

Penske said he hasn't needed to talk with Alltel officials until the company decides how the new version will be branded.

PIT STOPS

Road-racing specialist Ron Fellows will replace rookie Regan Smith for this weekend's race at Infineon Raceway, Dale Earnhardt Inc., announced.... Marcos Ambrose will attempt to make his first Cup start at Infineon, driving for the Wood Brothers.