Logano to drive five Cup races for Hall of Fame team

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Joey Logano will drive the No. 96 Toyota Camry in five Sprint Cup Series races for Hall of Fame Racing, team officials announced Wednesday.

Logano, who is under contract with Joe Gibbs Racing and will drive the No. 20 Toyota in the Sprint Cup Series starting in 2009, will pilot the No. 96 Toyota in five Cup races this fall:

Logano

• Sept. 14 at New Hampshire
• Sept. 28 at Kansas
• Oct. 11 at Charlotte
• Oct. 18 at Martinsville
• Nov. 2 at Texas

"We look forward to working with Joey during the five races he will drive the No. 96 DLP HDTV Toyota," said Tom Garfinkel, co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing. "We're happy to work with Joe Gibbs Racing to assist in Joey's development as he prepares for a full season in Sprint Cup next year."

"We appreciate Hall of Fame Racing helping us get Joey ready for 2009," said J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR. "They came to us with the idea before the August Michigan race and we think it's a great win/win for all of us."

Logano, 18, will make his Cup debut next weekend at Richmond driving the No. 02 Toyota for JGR. In 10 Nationwide Series starts for JGR, Logano has one win and seven top-10 finishes. Hall of Fame Racing receives chassis, engines and manufacturing support from JGR.

Veteran Ken Schrader, who started seventh and finished 21st in the No. 96 Toyota last weekend at Bristol, will drive the No. 96 Toyota this weekend at Fontana, Calif.

Schrader will also pilot the car at Richmond on Sept. 6, Dover on Sept. 21 and Talladega on Oct. 5.

Brad Coleman, who has been under contract as a test driver for Hall of Fame Racing since November 2007, will continue to test for the team in the coming weeks.

"Ken Schrader brings practical experience and stability to our race team that will help in a lot of ways," Garfinkel said. "Brad did a great job testing for us at Kansas this week, and Ken will be an asset to Brad as we continue to get him more laps in a Sprint Cup car."

Also:
• Logano officially named to replace Stewart in No. 20
• Logano now full throttle with Cup Series future decided