Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International (2.45-mile road course; Watkins Glen, NY)

The No. 48 Discount Tire Ford Mustang driven by Joey Logano

Saturday, August 10, 2:15pm ET

• A NEW TEAM, A NEW NUMBER: Joey Logano will once again run double-duty this weekend at Watkins Glen International. But it won’t be for his regular No. 22 team. Penske Racing will debut a new, third NASCAR Nationwide Series team this weekend, the No. 48 Discount Tire team.
• GORDON, BUSKIRK TO LEAD: Todd Gordon, Logano’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief, and Kevin Buskirk, the current test team manager for Penske Racing, will share the lead of the No. 48 team this weekend. Logano’s Shell-Pennzoil over-the-wall team will pit the car, while former driver Mark Green will spot for Logano. Green spotted for Logano for his victory earlier this year at Chicagoland Speedway.
• WATKINS GLEN HISTORY: Logano has raced in the NASCAR Nationwide Series five times at Watkins Glen and has earned two top-five and three top-10 finishes. Logano has finishes of second and third and was on his way to another top-five in one race when he was wrecked with just a few laps to go.
• THE CAR: Logano will be racing chassis PRS-223, which has served as the backup at the other road course races this year for the No. 22 team, as well as a test car.

WHAT WAS BEHIND THE DECISION TO RUN A THIRD TEAM AT WATKINS GLEN?

“Well road courses are one of those places that the more on-track time you have, the better it’s going to be for you. A lot of time when you run double-duty, there are a few things you can learn from Saturday to take to Sunday. But at a road course, it’s all about track time and just getting more practice running on the road course. I know both me and Brad (Keselowski) wanted to run that race as it would be just a little extra help for Sunday, so Roger (Penske) was good enough to say ‘let’s just run three teams.’ So it’s a good opportunity and should be a lot of fun.”

IS THERE ANY REASON THE TEAM CHOSE THE NO. 48 FOR THE THIRD TEAM?

“No, I don’t think there was anything behind it. When you have a third car, you have to pick from the available numbers that are left by NASCAR and we chose the No. 48. It will be interesting to drive that number for obvious reasons. We are already having fun with it though. I told Todd (Gordon, crew chief) that I’m going to call him Chad all weekend and he can call me Jimmie all weekend. I have also said I’m going to have to answer to some people if I don’t win in the No. 48.”