Joey Logano Provides Explosion Scarred Middletown, Connecticut with an Escape

Middletown, Connecticut 's native son Joey Logano will be racing for just a little bit more than usual Sunday during the Daytona 500. As Logano spent his early years in Middletown before moving south, and as his family is well known in the area, Logano has helped turned the small central Connecticut city from lukewarm to hot when it comes to NASCAR.

A week ago, Middletown experienced tragedy as a massive explosion rocked an under construction power plant on the banks of the Connecticut River, killing five workers. While none of the five actually were Middletown residents, three were from Connecticut and two of those were from nearby towns. No matter where any of the five men lived, all were working in Middletown building a clean energy plant and the city of Middletown, while thankful that the explosion didn't do even more damage, still grieved for those lost and their families.

Logano is something of a wunderkind. Last year, as a n 18 year old rookie, he struggled in the Daytona 500 (finishing last), and in other early season races, but by the end of the year was beginning to truly live up to his often talked about potential. This year, Logano's presence will surely be overshadowed by Danica Patrick's introduction to NASCAR...and he probably likes it that way. Elite performers always want to focus and having somebody else in the spotlight, one even greater than was on him last year as a rookie, is probably a welcomed relief as Logano can focus on racing.

But as so often happens in sports, the Daytona 500 will be used as an escape for the citizens in Middletown. Specifically, Logano's presence in the Daytona 500 will give a town that historically has been more of a baseball and football hotbed a sincere rooting interest in the race.

While the vast majority of Middletown residents have not suffered direct hardship as a result of the power plant explosion, the loss of life and the setback of a clean energy project clearly has taken an emotional toll, based on the community and church events that have focused on it in recent weeks. A week later to the day, the people Middletown will be able to tune in and yell and scream like crazy for its hometown hero, Joey Logano as he competes at the absolute highest level of NASCAR.

While it can seem a bit offputting to focus energy, and ascribe importance, to sports in the wake of a tragedy, the reality is that if put in the proper perspective, sports can be a wholesome, healthy and welcomed form of therapy. Sports cannot undo the tragedy, sports cannot bring back lost loved ones, and sports cannot prevent future tragedies.

But sports can provide a means to bond with others, temporarily distract ourselves from problems and assist in the healing process. As Middletown recovers from the power plant explosion, it will surely root for favorite son Joey Logano with just a bit more emotion. And really, isn't that one of the best parts of sports?

Good luck to Joey Logano in the Daytona 500 and Godspeed to Middletown , Connecticut as it recovers from tragedy.

Source: Middletown Press Staff, "Names of Victims Released", middletownpress.com
Michael Vega, "On the Fast Track", bostonglobe.com