This is an exciting time in NASCAR as Joey Logano, the heralded Joe Gibbs Racing 18-year-old phenom will make his national series debut in the Nationwide race Saturday at Dover.

If I had my druthers, this wouldn’t be happening — at least for a few more years.

An 18-year-old is too young to be competing with the big boys in Cup, Nationwide or even the Truck Series. At 18, you are too young to race on NASCAR’s biggest stage. This is a dangerous sport, lives are on the line, and at 18, a driver just doesn’t have the experience needed.

This is not a slam on Logano, and if there is an exception to my rule — it’s probably him. The kid is a flat-out stud behind the wheel, but not all 18-year-olds are Logano. And in this day where marketing rules the sport and drivers are getting younger and younger, a precedent is being set — and it’s a dangerous one.

There is a reason the Camping World Series exists. It’s there for young drivers to get an abbreviated feel for what it’s like in the major leagues. Drivers should not be allowed to move past the Camping World Series until they are at least 20, maybe even 21. When you’re 18, you can barely take care of yourself, let alone handle a multi-million dollar race team.

The NFL requires three years of college; the NBA requires one; rarely do you see a kid come up to the bigs right out of high school in Major League Baseball. There is a reason for this — they aren’t ready! The talent is there, that’s not in question, but handling life in the bigs is — that’s where the problem lies.

I’m all for making a living for yourself and doing what you want to do in life, very rarely do we get the opportunity to do something we love. But when it comes to such a dangerous sport like NASCAR, some precautions have to be made.

One such safeguard is waiting until you’re a little older to get behind the wheel with the big boys. At 18, you’re just not quite ready — even if you are Joey Logano.

• Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.

NASCAR’s current minimum age — 18 — is a rule that should not be up for discussion. For all the things fans could be debating, arguing about a minimum age — one that is fair, by the way — is low on the list.

The Neanderthal mentality of “Oh, 18 is too young” boggles my mind.

Whether it’s Joey Logano or Ricky Bobby, when a driver is at least 18, has shown the skill to compete and the team owner is confident in the youngster’s abilities, let him (or her) race.

Anyone heard about that little skirmish in the sand over in the Middle East? A lot of the kids who are risking their lives are… 18.

And we’re yakking about whether or not an 18-year-old should be allowed to race?

Logano has been driving a lot longer than many of those 18 year olds in uniform have been firing weapons. He’s also accustomed to the on-track beating and banging. How many of those soldiers have years — or even months, weeks — of experience in hostile fire?

Think about that during the national anthem this weekend.

• Duane Cross, NASCAR.COM

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.