I've worked in the NASCAR scene for more than a few years. I wouldn't say I am friends with any of the drivers, but I am more friendly with some than others. At most events, there are other duties that a NASCAR driver must attend to, including (and probably the most essential obligation besides crossing the finish line first) keeping the money coming in.
That's right, money is a huge part of NASCAR and all motorsports. So for a few hours before showtime, these celebrity athletes gladhand with their sponsors. For some of them, it comes easy. Putting on a smile, posing for photos with patrons, answering questions from fans, and explaining what racing means to them are just a few tasks expected of every driver before climbing behind the wheel of their racecar.
Working for Penske and Ford for the past few years, I've watched Joey mature on and off the racetrack. I remember when he was the youngest driver to ever race in a Cup car. I remember when he was driving the Home Depot sponsored racecar. I remember watching his car flip seven and a half times at Dover back in 2009. I remember his move to Penske in 2013 and his first win in New Hampshire in 2014.
I was also there in 2018 when Joey raised the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup for the first time.
Something changes at this point in a driver's career. They won. They've accomplished something that very few competitors have ever done. To hoist a championship trophy into the air signifies a victory in the sport and life. Of course, all drivers breathe a sigh of relief after winning a championship, but sometimes their passion floats off with the confetti. Some feel that one win was enough to prove the critics wrong and to validate all the hard work and sacrifice of their journey. For others, the first success plants a seed of ambition for the future.
One thing I've noticed in all of the NASCAR champions I have worked with the year after achieving their lifelong goal is that their bravado is no longer a part of their countenance or a step in their swagger. There's no hubris on display for intimidation. Their outward posing has become unnecessary because they have accepted that being a champion is more about who they are and less about winning races.
Many congratulations to the two-time champ Joey Logano!
Here are a few of the Joey Logano media releases that used my photos during 2022. Click on the photo to read the article.
