Joey Logano Breaks Richard Petty’s Record As Youngest NASCAR Cup Series Driver With 600 Starts – See The Top 5
When Joey Logano took the green flag at Dover International Speedway on Sunday afternoon he also took on a new title.
At age 35 years, one month and 26 days-old , Logano became the youngest driver with 600 NASCAR Cup Series starts, breaking a 52-year-old record held by the King, Richard Petty.
Petty was 35 years, seven months and 23 days-old when he won at Richmond on February 25, 1973.
“To be able to be around in a sport as an athlete competing at a top level for 16-plus years and hit 600 starts, that’s pretty incredible,” Logano said in the week before the race. “It’s something that I take some pride in.”
Along with Petty, Logano now leads a list of legendary drivers who are among the youngest to reach the 600 race mark.
1. JOEY LOGANO
The future NASCAR hall of famer’s first Cup Series race was at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept 14, 2008 for the appropriately named Hall of Fame Racing. Since then he’s racked up 37 wins and collected three championships.
2. RICHARD PETTY
The seven-time champion’s first Grand National race took place in Canada at on a 1/3-mile track in Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium. He’d go on to complete 1,184 races in the top series over 35 years and win 200 along the way.
3. KYLE BUSCH
Busch reached the 600-race milestone at his home track in Las Vegas on Sept. 26, 2021 at the age of 36 years, four months and 24 days, but would have to settle for a third-place finish behind Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott.
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4. JEFF GORDON
The four-time champion and 93-race winner started his 600th race on July 10, 2010 at Chicagoland Speedway at age 38 years, 11 months and six days.
5. KURT BUSCH
Kurt Busch took a little longer than his younger brother to get to 600 races and it was Kyle that celebrated the occasion with a win at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 19, 2017, when Kurt finished fifth at age 39 years and 15 days.