perez is also still tied for second on the team in quality starts w

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Theres a changing of the guard occurring in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and Joey Logano is leading the charge.The 26-year-old Connecticut native has qualified among the final four drivers to compete for the Sprint Cup title in two of three years since NASCAR adopted an elimination playoff-style format to determine its annual champion.Logano is the youngest driver to reach the final four, and he is in position to become NASCARs youngest Cup Series champion since Jeff Gordon took the honors in 1995 at age 24. The only obstacle standing in his way is the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he needs to beat six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and defending Cup Series titlist Kyle Busch in a straight fight.In a sport where longtime star Gordon retired (theoretically) at the end of the 2015 season and three-time champion Tony Stewart is ready to exit the big stage, the younger generation is taking over. Johnson and other top Cup stars like Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth are all over 40 and likely soon to be thinking about following Gordons and Stewarts lead.Meanwhile, Logano and a band of rising twenty-somethings who are trying to become NASCARs future champions and stars are trying to capitalize.For Logano, the time is now. Although hes just 26, hes wrapping up his eighth full season in the Cup Series and making his second serious run at the championship.No driver has won more Chase races (seven) than Logano in the elimination format era, and he knows that based on what has transpired the last two years at Homestead, he will probably need to take his first win at the Florida track if he wants to secure the crown.Coming off a crucial victory at Phoenix International Raceway certainly helps.Weve got momentum, he said.?Theres a lot of excitement.?I remember when we got through a couple years ago to Miami, I wasnt as excited. I was immediately nervous right after the race [at Phoenix]. This time the feeling is, Hey, weve got confidence. I know we can do it. I dont feel like its a long shot like it was last time because weve been here before.?Weve been in these situations.The fact that Logano ended up fourth among the four title contestants at Homestead in 2014 after a slow pit stop led to a disappointing finish doesnt faze the Team Penske driver.Everyone told me Youve got to lose one to win one, and I thought that was the biggest crock of crap Ive ever heard in my life, Logano related. But you know what, its not the fact that you have to lose one to win one, its the fact that maybe it really helped me to just live through it once. Since then, weve been in those situations where we had to win a race to stay in the championship. And Homestead [in 2014] was the first time we ever had to do that.?I think were approaching it like its a normal weekend, he added. We race to win every week; why should we race differently for a championship, right?? Were racing to win that race, and thats ultimately going to have a championship attached to that.?Weve got momentum. Weve won multiple races. Weve got on rolls before where youve got that momentum and that confidence and it just keeps stacking up like it did last year, and were in good position to do that again.As a backdrop to Loganos championship aspirations, team owner Roger Penske is celebrating his 50th anniversary in racing as a team owner. Simon Pagenaud already won the IndyCar Series championship for Penske in what has been a very successful season for the most successful team owner in American motorsports history. But he only has one Sprint Cup title on the list, 2012 with Brad Keselowski.With Logano, Penske has found the perfect blend of youth and experience that is necessary to contend in the sport today.I can tell you that hes a quality young man, Penske said.?He listens. He motivates his team. I mean, hes there at the shop day in and day out, and theres never been a time weve asked him to do something on or off the track he hasnt done it with a smile.?You look at how tight hes been running here the last year and a half or two years, he really pretty much stayed out of trouble, and I think hes earned a reputation in the garage area that you can race hard with him. To me, thats important.But more important, I think the person himself, he represents us in a first-class manner, and he can be with us a long time, working together with Brad, Penske added. Hes matured, and you have to say that if you go up and down the garage area, at his age, weve got a real winner.Crew chief Todd Gordon likes what he has seen from Logano throughout this season, and especially when the pressure has increased in the Chase.I think the peace that weve had success and weve had speed through the last five races kind of builds your confidence to feel like we just need to go forward and do the things that weve done, and we can be successful, Gordon said.?Hes focused on that and focused on making sure our weekend runs the way weve run our weekends and doesnt change anything up.???????????I feel a lot of calm from his feedback and what hes saying and what hes doing and the mannerisms, he continued.?Hes all over just making this another race, and I think in a great position.Any of the four drivers in Sundays championship finale would make a worthy 2016 champion for NASCAR. But Logano has the opportunity to make his mark on the sport at a much younger age than the others.For him and for the Cup Series, the future starts Sunday. Cory Joseph Kings Jersey . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Richaun Holmes Jersey . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Trevor-Ariza-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Bruno Caboclo Kings Jersey . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Iman Shumpert Kings Jersey . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Something going to have to give Saturday when Kansas Citys Ian Kennedy matches up against Texas Martin Perez.Both pitchers are having months theyd rather forget as their teams have struggled to the month. At least they have that in common.Kennedy, the subject of trade rumors, is 0-3 in July and 6.9 with a 4.41 ERA in a disappointing season for the right-hander. At least Perez (7-7) knows how Kennedy is feeling. Like Kennedy, Perez has suffered through a 0-3 July and has seen his ERA jump from 3.39 to 4.38 over his last four starts.While Kennedy may be pitching for his rotation spot and a chance to impress a possible trade partner, Perez is just trying to get back on track after having a stretch in which he went 6-0 over eight starts from May 24 until July 1.Saturday hell have a chance to give their Rangers three-consecutive wins from the rotation for the first time since he was part of a four-game rotation winning streak June 14-17.He knows what has to happen.I need to be more aggressive, said Perez, who allowed five runs (three earned) in his last start. My curveball is back. I need to try and get hitters early and start being aggressive early in the game. I need to make the hitters uncomfortable.Even though Perez is struggling this month, he has reached some milestones. Saturdays start will be his 22nd of the season, two more than hes made in any otheer year.dddddddddddd Hes also thrown 125 1/3 innings, a new career high. He pitched 124 1/3 in 2013.Perez is also still tied for second on the team in quality starts with 13 in his first full season back since having Tommy John surgery in 2014. He knows how important going deep into games is for a rotation thats struggled.Last year I was coming back and I didnt throw that many innings, Perez said. This year I need to stay healthy because they believe in me, and I think its my job to help this team win games and try to go long in the games.Adding to Kennedys struggles is the fact that his name continues to pop up in trade rumors. Hes trying not to pay attention to that and focus on his job.Man I just got here, said Kennedy, who signed a five-year deal with the Royals in the offseason. I didnt hear that one (trade rumor). I did see my face on TV once, but I didnt hear what they said.Trade talk is nothing new for Kennedy. He was traded in 2009 as part of a three-team deal and then dealt again in 2013 from Arizona to San Diego.He knows trade talk goes with the territory, especially at this time of the year.Its kind of nothing, he said. Its part of the business, now especially because there are so many prospects that are really good that teams want. ' ' '