Joey Logano joins Penske NASCAR Sprint Cup team after losing Joe Gibbs seat to Matt Kenseth

Logano, a two-time winner in Cup and currently in his fourth full season in NASCAR's elite, is losing his current Joe Gibbs Racing seat to 2003 champion Matt Kenseth next season.

He will switch to the #22 Penske entry occupied by Sam Hornish Jr since AJ Allmendinger's indefinite suspension for a failed drugs test.

Logano became the youngest winner in Cup history when he claimed victory at Loudon in his debut season at the age of 19, having already set the record for the youngest Nationwide winner a year earlier at Kentucky.

"I am very excited to join Penske Racing and begin the next phase of my career," said the 2009 rookie of the year. "I am looking forward to the opportunity as it will be an honour to drive for Roger Penske and race for wins and championships."

This year Logano claimed victory from pole at Pocono Raceway in June. That win puts him in contention for a wildcard entry into this year's Chase, although he enters this weekend's Richmond decider needing a win in order to make it into the play-off for the first time.

Since replacing Tony Stewart at JGR for 2009, Logano's best results came in 2010 when despite missing the Chase, he outscored many of the title contenders in the last 10 races of the year, finishing 16th in the standings.

Besides his pair of Cup victories, Logano has won 15 times in Nationwide, finishing almost half the races he has entered in the top five, and claiming 19 pole positions.

"Joey Logano is a very talented driver who has already achieved a lot of success at a young age," said Penske Racing's Tim Cindric.

"Joey is a great fit for our organisation and we look forward to building on his success as he takes his place behind the wheel of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford."