TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Joey Logano will not return to Hall of Fame Racing's No. 96 Toyota, but that doesn't mean his preparation for the 2009 Sprint Cup season is over.

The 18-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver, replacing Tony Stewart in the No. 20 next season, will pilot the No. 02 Home Depot Toyota for Gibbs at Atlanta Motor Speedway Oct. 26.

“

We were not disappointed with Joey's performance, but we want to make sure we are getting the best from our program.

”

-- TYLER EPP, GM HALL OF FAME

Originally, Gibbs and Hall of Fame struck a partnership to afford Logano some much-needed seat time in the No. 96 Toyota while Hall of Fame looked to benefit from having a "hot shoe" behind the wheel, said Tyler Epp, Hall of Fame's general manager.

But after some dismal finishes, neither party could accomplish what they set out to do and split ways last week.

Logano was disappointed with his performances -- 32nd at New Hampshire and 39th at Kansas -- and Hall of Fame was still unable to find its way back into the top 35 in owners' points. Heading into Sunday's race with Ken Schrader behind the wheel, the No. 96 team is 39th.

"The decision was very mutual," said Epp. "It wasn't a failure on anyone's part, but we have to look out for our best interest and that is getting a veteran's perspective in our car. We were not disappointed with Joey's performance, but we want to make sure we are getting the best from our program."

Logano was to run five of the last 10 Cup Series races in the No. 96 with crew support from Gibbs; Epp said the team was not paid to run Logano.

Meanwhile, Logano will run the remainder of the Nationwide Series races in the No. 20 car, in addition to the ARCA and Truck Series races this weekend at Talladega -- a track where Logano has no drafting experience.

He qualified sixth for Saturday's Truck race driving the No. 59 Toyota machine owned by James Harris.

Logano made his Nationwide Series debut at Dover in June and won three weeks later at Kentucky Speedway. Altogether the driver has two Cup Series starts and 14 Nationwide starts.