During a rain delay at EchoPark Speedway, Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse, was honored with the 2025 NMPA Pocono Spirit Award. The award presentation was made by current NMPA President Holly Cain and former president Deb Williams in the infield media center, recognizing Logano’s significant impact both on and off the racetrack.
The Mission Behind the Joey Logano Foundation and JL Kids Crew
Joey Logano expressed deep appreciation for the broader purpose of motorsports beyond competition, emphasizing how the industry embraces a greater responsibility throughout the week, not only on race day. He reflected on the opportunity those involved in the sport have to positively affect lives, even with small gestures like a simple smile. This philosophy shapes the work of the Joey Logano Foundation, whose primary focus is supporting foster children and partnering with organizations that aid foster families facing difficult circumstances.
The JL Kids Crew, a branch of Logano’s foundation, was established to honor the memory of Jake Leatherman, a young fan who passed away nearly a decade ago. Logano recalled how numerous crew members attended Jake’s funeral in firesuits as a touching tribute. Though many never met Jake, that moment inspired the foundation’s community-driven program to continue his legacy by making lasting positive impacts on children.
Providing Unique Experiences for Kids Through Motorsports
Logano highlighted the importance of giving children unforgettable experiences at the racetrack. Through partnerships with Shell, Ford, Hunt Brothers Pizza, and supportive racetrack organizations like SMI, kids are welcomed into a family environment where they can feel like part of the team. Activities such as pushing cars onto the grid or adjusting air pressures allow these children to actively participate, creating memories that hold deep meaning for both the youths and their guardians.
He acknowledged the difficult realities many foster children face, emphasizing how the joy on a child’s face and the relief in a parent’s expression during these moments is profoundly moving. Logano stressed that this effort is a collaborative one involving the entire racing community, which embraces these children warmly during events such as driver meetings and autograph sessions, making it a dreamlike experience for many.
Honoring Jake Leatherman’s Enduring Influence
The JL Kids Crew stands as a testament to the power of community and compassion in motorsports. Logano sees this program as a vital way to preserve Jake Leatherman’s memory by continuing to bring hope and happiness to foster children. He described the award as a tribute to Jake’s legacy and a reflection of how much the sport can offer beyond competition. The ongoing work of the Joey Logano Foundation and its supporters demonstrates the unique role racing plays in uniting people to create meaningful change.
As Joey Logano accepts the 2025 NMPA Spirit Award, his dedication to fostering positive experiences for vulnerable children in the racing world underscores the human side of the sport, serving as a hopeful example for drivers, teams, and fans alike.
“When I think about our sport and the huge hearts that are in it, I think everybody gets used to seeing us being so cut throat on the racetrack, we’re so used to just getting after it and doing whatever we can to win, but I think this industry does an amazing job at understanding what the big picture is from Monday back to Sunday and that there is a bigger purpose than just driving in circles. I say it all the time, it is a really cool job and it’s an incredible opportunity, but if you don’t do anything with it, it’s a pretty empty life at the end of the day. If you have the opportunity, and all of us do here sitting in this room and in the garage, have the opportunity to impact people in such a positive way. The crazy thing is a lot of times it just happens with a smile. It doesn’t even take much, and then you can obviously build off of that and some incredible things.” – Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse
“The JL Kids Crew is just a leg of what we do at the Joey Logano Foundation. Our main focus is foster children. We love being able to partner with some great organizations that help foster kids and foster parents get through life. It’s obviously a very challenging life and not of their choice. That’s what I have the biggest heart for is the people that get put in a situation. They didn’t make a bad decision, it’s just what happened to those kids. There’s a lot of great people that are willing to help and we like being the fuel that jumps onto something that somebody has already started.” – Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse
“The JL Kids Crew, which is what this award is about, started a while back and this goes to show how incredible our community is. A little guy named Jake Leatherman, he passed away. I guess we’re getting close to 10 years ago. I don’t believe any of us got to meet him, but a lot of us went to his funeral and there were probably 40 crew members who showed up at his funeral wearing firesuits. It was a really touching moment during the funeral. I left there with my wife and I was angry that we didn’t see him when he was with us. I was like, ‘This is great, but what a missed opportunity.’ And that’s what started the JL Kids Crew was in honor of Jake and to let his legacy live through this program. To me, it’s a cool thing to see that.” – Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse
“So many kids have come to the racetrack and we have great partners to help with that. Obviously, Shell and Ford and Hunt Brother’s Pizza – everybody that jumps on board with that – but also the racetracks. Right here, SMI has done a great job of helping us with suites and giving us access to the racetrack and making sure that these kids have an experience that you can’t buy. That’s what I want it to be. Put them as part of the team. Give them a race suit. Make them feel like they’re part of it. Let them help push the car out onto the grid or set the air pressures. It’s little stuff like that, but it really matters to not only the child, but when you see their parent’s face light up because a lot of these children are going through hell. I’m just being honest and frank about it. They’re going through a lot and as a parent watching your child go through some of the stuff, I couldn’t imagine.” – Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse
“So, to see the joy not only in the child’s face, but also the parent’s face or whoever is with them, their guardian, is really so touching and it’s something I’m so appreciative of. It’s not just me doing that. It’s not just the Joey Logano Foundation doing that, which is incredible as well, but it’s our industry that wraps their arms around them when they’re sitting at the driver’s meeting and the go around and get all of the autographs, or back at driver intros. It’s a dream come true for these kids, so it’s an honor to let Jake’s legacy live on through that program. This is for him.” – Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse
