Personally, I think the “Let the boys race philosophy that NASCAR has adopted this year has meant better racing. I’m not too happy about the current Brad Keselowski vs. Carl Edwards feud, because it seems to be coming very dangerous, but overall, I’m pretty happy with the racing I’ve seen this season. Some of the Carl and Brad stuff is a little over the top, and I just pray and hope that nobody gets hurt in this quarrel.
Can Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s luck get any worse? He had a decent top 20 going at Indy, but got caught up in Juan Pablo Montoya’s debacle with trying to make up spots because of going with four tires instead of two. I’m not faulting Juan, he should have won that race, but pit strategy raised its ugly head and effectively ended the day for both drivers.
I make no apologies for being a Junior fan. I’ve been a fan of his since 1998. I was a fan of his father, whom I still refuse to call Dale Sr., even though that may be technically true. To me, the father was Dale Earnhardt. The son will always be Dale Jr. I’m happy with that, but I’m getting tired of the ‘senior’ tag, though I know it makes it easier for the media types to designate between the two.
I miss the Dale Jr. Pit Stop. I still read it from time to time, but I haven’t been able to get my password to work on there in almost a year now. Jim, if you read this, have mercy on me! I only get online a couple of times a week now, and never on Sundays, but I miss the prayer before the race, and the check in after the invocation. It was fun seeing people from all over the country, and even all over the world joining in the fun of watching the race and talking about it. Happy days, all over for me now, I guess.
I’m glad that NASCAR seems to be at least one major sporting event in the country that respects God, our country, and our military brothers and sisters who protect our freedom. Where there’s NASCAR, there seems to be hope for our country, and our world.
Is it just me, or has Kyle Busch mellowed out a little this year? I’m actually finding myself enjoying his commercials this year. For the most part, Kyle’s face after a race is a perfect mirror for his emotions. When he doesn’t win, he shows the disappointment, very visibly. That’s not a bad thing. It’s way better than the tantrums of yesteryear, or the on-track retaliation. Maybe engagement is agreeing with our favorite driver to dislike. I have to admit, I dislike him less this year that I ever have. That’s not exactly glowing praise, but it’s a lot better than my opinion of him last year. We just have to take this a race at a time, I suppose. Kyle is still a spectacular driver, but like his brother, eventually anyone can mature, it would seem. Personally, I’m glad to see it. I don’t like to hate anyone, but two years ago, I hated Kyle Busch. This year, I find myself only feeling a slight dislike for him. Every day in every way, we’re all getting better and better!
Are you excited about the count down to the Chase? I am. I can’t wait to see who’s in, and who’s out. I don’t know that I like the idea of knockout racing, and I’m still not exactly sold on the Chase itself, but it is what we have. It is what it is.
As I write this, I’m watching the Nationwide race at Iowa. That is a great track. I’d love to see the Cup guys on this track one day. I’d also like to see them racing at Kentucky, but, well, you know, that’s how it goes.
Does it irritate you that many convenience store workers have no grasp of English, and an even less grasp of mathematics? I just went down to the local gas station and the dude tried to charge me $29.95 for a 16 ounce Pepsi. I argued with him for a while, but gave up when it became apparent that he didn’t speak English. I walked away, and bought one for a buck at the store across the street. Dale Jr., Jeff, Jimmie, Mark, your street level sales staff suck. Why put someone on the counter of a store that doesn’t even understand the most common language in this country? I’m not saying that we should all speak English, but it wouldn’t hurt in a retail environment. Screaming at me in your dialect really didn’t help your overall sales model. Just saying, dude.
I know that the above mentioned drivers didn’t really have a part in this. It could be Pepsi, Coke, whatever. It’s just kinda sad when you can’t understand the guy who’s trying to sell you something, because he doesn’t speak my language at all. I know, I know, I should make myself bilingual. Right. I was born here, and it is necessary that I learn how to speak Spanish, Hindi, and whatever other languages that are spoken in the local BP gas station. Bull bumkis.
The dude in the BP station was pretty smooth. He even offered to pour the Pepsi over a Styrofoam cup full of ice. Oooooohhhhhh. How could I resist? Somehow, I managed.
While I was walking out the door, I was treated to what can be called a profusion of Hindi curses. I didn’t mind too much. I’m more or less a Baptist. Or maybe a Methodist. I went to an Episcopalian school too. Does that count?
Elliot Sadler is out of t he 19 car at the end of 2010 and going to exactly where? Mark Martin is in the 5 car for Rick Hendrick, but will he be there in 2011, or will Kasey Kahne be in that car? Some of you feel that Dale Earnhardt Jr. should be the sacrificial lamb in this deal, because he hasn’t performed up to expectations thus far. Should Rick Hendrick let Dale Jr. go to provide space for both Kahne and Martin in 2011?
If I had the answers to any of these questions, I’d be living in Palm Beach, and you’d never hear from me again.
Bobby Labonte will be driving the 47 Toyota which will be vacated by Marcos Ambrose at the end of 2010. Ambrose will reportedly be driving either the 9 or 19 car for Richard Petty Motorsports, which may or may not be a lateral move. I’m still trying to figure out the advantages and disadvantages involved with this move.
It’s August, and it’s time to roll! Let’s go!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
The World’s Most Popular Sport, or Does NASCAR Need the Red Card?
Of course I’m talking about football, as it’s called in the rest of the world. Here, in America, we call it soccer. The World Cup is happening in South Africa, and that’s a pretty great thing. From what I understand, the USA just advanced to a round in the Cup that they haven’t been able to do since 1930 or so.
I don’t really understand soccer. I played it in high school, during PE. It turned out that I was a much better goalie than I was a field player, because I could never overcome the instinct to catch the ball with my hands when it came hurtling towards me. Only goalies can do that in soccer. I grew up playing with an oblong ball with my friends where the entire idea was to catch the ball with my hands. I played with a small stitched ball that I caught in a glove. I played with a rather large orange ball that I bounced off the floor and used my hands to propel it towards a hoop 10 feet high. In other words, I grew up playing typical American sports as a kid. Here in the South, at least when I was a kid, hockey was rarely seen or heard about. Basically, it seems to me that hockey is just like soccer, except it’s played with sticks and much more violence. The players are on skates. To me, that makes more sense than kicking a round ball around for 90 or so minutes and ending up with a 1-1 tie.
There is a famous line in some movie that states “There is no crying in baseball!” Apparently that is not so in soccer. Teams that lose, or players that make a mistake routinely throw themselves on the ground, put their hands over their faces, and cry. I suppose that’s acceptable for the world’s most popular sport. Heck, it sometimes even happens in American sports, but not very often. Here in America, you’re more likely to see a person cry because they win, rather that being the loser.
But \football, or soccer, as I call it has it’s uses. Soccer uses a yellow card to denote a foul. If it’s a really bad foul, the player is shown the red card, which means expulsion from the event. And supposedly the next event as well. Should NASCAR use the red card?
Actually, NASCAR does. It’s called the black flag. But it’s just to get a guy to pit when he has committed a horrible crime like leaving equipment outside of his pit stall, or for running to slowly on the track. The black flag can also be used to call in a driver who has committed an egregious foul upon another driver. NASCAR can park a driver for bad behavior, NASCAR can do pretty much any darn thing they want to.
Think about it. NASCAR basically can and has done, but rarely, the same thing that football, or soccer does. They can park a guy for the rest of the race. Kevin Harvick got parked one time for something he supposedly did in the Busch series, and it cost him a Winston Cup race start.
In effect, NASCAR always has the option of imposing what soccer would call the red card. Should they? If a driver is out to wreck another driver, I’d say that NASCAR has that right Park the guy, sit him out for a week. Let him know that he needs NASCAR much more than NASCAR needs him.
What do you think?
I don’t really understand soccer. I played it in high school, during PE. It turned out that I was a much better goalie than I was a field player, because I could never overcome the instinct to catch the ball with my hands when it came hurtling towards me. Only goalies can do that in soccer. I grew up playing with an oblong ball with my friends where the entire idea was to catch the ball with my hands. I played with a small stitched ball that I caught in a glove. I played with a rather large orange ball that I bounced off the floor and used my hands to propel it towards a hoop 10 feet high. In other words, I grew up playing typical American sports as a kid. Here in the South, at least when I was a kid, hockey was rarely seen or heard about. Basically, it seems to me that hockey is just like soccer, except it’s played with sticks and much more violence. The players are on skates. To me, that makes more sense than kicking a round ball around for 90 or so minutes and ending up with a 1-1 tie.
There is a famous line in some movie that states “There is no crying in baseball!” Apparently that is not so in soccer. Teams that lose, or players that make a mistake routinely throw themselves on the ground, put their hands over their faces, and cry. I suppose that’s acceptable for the world’s most popular sport. Heck, it sometimes even happens in American sports, but not very often. Here in America, you’re more likely to see a person cry because they win, rather that being the loser.
But \football, or soccer, as I call it has it’s uses. Soccer uses a yellow card to denote a foul. If it’s a really bad foul, the player is shown the red card, which means expulsion from the event. And supposedly the next event as well. Should NASCAR use the red card?
Actually, NASCAR does. It’s called the black flag. But it’s just to get a guy to pit when he has committed a horrible crime like leaving equipment outside of his pit stall, or for running to slowly on the track. The black flag can also be used to call in a driver who has committed an egregious foul upon another driver. NASCAR can park a driver for bad behavior, NASCAR can do pretty much any darn thing they want to.
Think about it. NASCAR basically can and has done, but rarely, the same thing that football, or soccer does. They can park a guy for the rest of the race. Kevin Harvick got parked one time for something he supposedly did in the Busch series, and it cost him a Winston Cup race start.
In effect, NASCAR always has the option of imposing what soccer would call the red card. Should they? If a driver is out to wreck another driver, I’d say that NASCAR has that right Park the guy, sit him out for a week. Let him know that he needs NASCAR much more than NASCAR needs him.
What do you think?
It Hurts And It Hurts So Bad
Marcose Ambrose lost the race at Sonoma at Infineon last week because he shut down the engine to save fuel. To be more accurate, he lost the race because he couldn’t get the engine fired before about 7 cars passed him.
I feel for Marcose. He’s got to feel so close to getting a win, which he was at Sonoma, but so far away because of his dismal finish, which compared to other drivers was a great finish.
Take Dale Earnhardt Jr. for instance. He was probably pretty happy with an 11th place finish after struggling with the road course and his car all day. Ambrose is an accomplished road racer, so his disappointment must have been almost palpable after Sunday’s race.
Ambrose’ day is coming. He’s far too good a racer to not win in the near future. Watkins Glen is coming up, and that’s probably the next best chance that Ambrose has to get into victory lane in the Sprint Cup.
Marcose Ambrose, you’re ship is coming in. You were that close, but you failed to collect the cigar. You’ll get there, and it might be this year, or next year, or the next, or even the next.
You’ll get there though.
I’ve got faith in you Marcose. You’re a winner that just hasn’t won in Sprint Cup yet.
I feel for Marcose. He’s got to feel so close to getting a win, which he was at Sonoma, but so far away because of his dismal finish, which compared to other drivers was a great finish.
Take Dale Earnhardt Jr. for instance. He was probably pretty happy with an 11th place finish after struggling with the road course and his car all day. Ambrose is an accomplished road racer, so his disappointment must have been almost palpable after Sunday’s race.
Ambrose’ day is coming. He’s far too good a racer to not win in the near future. Watkins Glen is coming up, and that’s probably the next best chance that Ambrose has to get into victory lane in the Sprint Cup.
Marcose Ambrose, you’re ship is coming in. You were that close, but you failed to collect the cigar. You’ll get there, and it might be this year, or next year, or the next, or even the next.
You’ll get there though.
I’ve got faith in you Marcose. You’re a winner that just hasn’t won in Sprint Cup yet.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Things That Irritate Me, But Don't Let That Bother You
It looked to me that Kevin Harvick wrecked Joey, but not intentionally at Pocono. What irritates me? Joey Logano’s dad. If the boy can drive a race car, let him stand up for himself. And he did. Kevin is Kevin. Joey is Joey. Why make it more complicated than that?
NASCAR broadcasters in general irritate me. Why throw in your two cents just because you have that much in your pockets? Just because you’ve got a microphone in front of you doesn’t mean you have to say some of the inane stuff that you say.
I’m so irritated by people on the news trying to explain Dale Jr.’s problems on the track. Lance McGrew is a great crew chief, I’m sure, but he and Junior rub each other the wrong way. That is what they call bad chemistry. I say bring Pops (Tony Eury Sr.) in and let’s get some of that old magic back. Heck, Pops works for Dale Jr. now, so I don’t see that being a problem, at least logically. But Pops doesn’t want to do the full Cup series tour, and I understand why, because it’s just hard to watch it all on TV, and I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to travel the insane schedule that Cup follows, and I don’t blame Pops. Face it though, Pops was the best crew chief Dale Jr. ever had.
I get irritated by FIFA World Cup Soccer. Of course, the rest of the world calls it “football”, and I suppose that that’s an accurate term. Men strike the ball with their feet, chests, foreheads, and sometimes their noses, which provides the most enjoyment, because then they bleed a little bit. Oh get off of it people. I’ve personally had a broken nose at least 3 times in my life. It’s not pleasant, but it’s not that bad either. Could those idiots quit blowing those dad gum horns for at least a minute? I suppose not. The stupid horns are ruining it for me. If they sounded like the sound of an 850 HP racing engine…… Well, that would be a different story.
I’m irritated by most rap music. I say most, because there are a few songs that get under my skin, and Lord help me, but I just can’t help myself but I have them ringing around in my brain for a few weeks or months. I really despise the music that preaches hate for police or authority. Some rappers are a little more mellow though, and actually do some funny stuff. I don’t mind that.
Kyle Busch irritates me. Maybe not quite as much as he did last year, but he still irritates me. He’s a very annoying young man. I know he wants to win every race he’s in, but you can only carry stuff like that so far. Kyle needs to learn how to control his emotions and talk to the TV and radio crews. Kyle needs to learn a little about humility. One day, Kyle may maybe be the grand old man of NASCAR, much like Mark Martin or Bill Elliot are today. He’s got a long way to go though.
NASCAR broadcasters in general irritate me. Why throw in your two cents just because you have that much in your pockets? Just because you’ve got a microphone in front of you doesn’t mean you have to say some of the inane stuff that you say.
I’m so irritated by people on the news trying to explain Dale Jr.’s problems on the track. Lance McGrew is a great crew chief, I’m sure, but he and Junior rub each other the wrong way. That is what they call bad chemistry. I say bring Pops (Tony Eury Sr.) in and let’s get some of that old magic back. Heck, Pops works for Dale Jr. now, so I don’t see that being a problem, at least logically. But Pops doesn’t want to do the full Cup series tour, and I understand why, because it’s just hard to watch it all on TV, and I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to travel the insane schedule that Cup follows, and I don’t blame Pops. Face it though, Pops was the best crew chief Dale Jr. ever had.
I get irritated by FIFA World Cup Soccer. Of course, the rest of the world calls it “football”, and I suppose that that’s an accurate term. Men strike the ball with their feet, chests, foreheads, and sometimes their noses, which provides the most enjoyment, because then they bleed a little bit. Oh get off of it people. I’ve personally had a broken nose at least 3 times in my life. It’s not pleasant, but it’s not that bad either. Could those idiots quit blowing those dad gum horns for at least a minute? I suppose not. The stupid horns are ruining it for me. If they sounded like the sound of an 850 HP racing engine…… Well, that would be a different story.
I’m irritated by most rap music. I say most, because there are a few songs that get under my skin, and Lord help me, but I just can’t help myself but I have them ringing around in my brain for a few weeks or months. I really despise the music that preaches hate for police or authority. Some rappers are a little more mellow though, and actually do some funny stuff. I don’t mind that.
Kyle Busch irritates me. Maybe not quite as much as he did last year, but he still irritates me. He’s a very annoying young man. I know he wants to win every race he’s in, but you can only carry stuff like that so far. Kyle needs to learn how to control his emotions and talk to the TV and radio crews. Kyle needs to learn a little about humility. One day, Kyle may maybe be the grand old man of NASCAR, much like Mark Martin or Bill Elliot are today. He’s got a long way to go though.
You Said What?
Down here in the South, we have a special way of saying things sometimes. The same is probably true for the rest of the country, as well as the rest of the world, but here in the South, we seem to really do things differently sometimes.
I used to play, and still have friends who hit a little white ball with a stick called “goff” or “gawf”, depending upon how many beers the player has had. I think the real word is “golf”, but it seems that if you pronounce it that way, you’re either from the North or totally sober.
I used to have a boss in North Carolina who once said that he was basically a “farfarter, I put out fars all day.” I think he meant “firefighter”, but with bosses, who knows what the heck they’re talking about sometimes?
NASCAR certainly has it’s share of Southern residents involved in the sport, though not in many of the driver’s seats anymore. Many of the crew chiefs, and even some of the owners are as Southern as they can get. Many of them have managed to lose the Southern accent, but often you will hear some things that must be almost incomprehensible to people, say, from the great state of Minnesota.
“This dang ole back end keeps tryin to tarn on me!” “Just keep ‘er up thar, bud. Keep a hittin yore marks!” “OK, guys. Four tars and a half round a wedge in the rot rear.” “Keep a gittin it!”
I’m certainly not being critical of these folks. Heck, I’m about as Southern as I can be. I particular love hearing Bill Elliot talk. Now folks, when you hear Awesome Bill talk, you know exactly what a North Georgia mountain boy sounds like. I really miss Ward Burton, because he exemplifies the sound of Southern Virginia. “Mah name is Wah Button.” I miss that so much.
No, folks, I’m the last person to be critical. People have complained over the years that Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr. were pretty much speaking a foreign language, or so it sounded. I understand that accent perfectly, because I’ve got the same one. I’ve lived most of my life within 100 miles of Mooresville, North Carolina, so to me, it’s the way most people talk around here.
“I’ll be dad gummed” is one you hear often during NASCAR races. I can forgive Larry McReynolds for saying it, because he’s from Alabama. But Ole DW? Darrell is from Owensboro, Kentucky, which is right across the river from Indiana. Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman are both from Indiana, and I’ve never them “dad gum” anything.
I enjoy how some drivers seem to be becoming “Southernized.” Kevin Harvick, who is from Bakersfield, California, does not have a Southern accent, but occasionally he will pronounce a word or two with a distinct Southern flavor to it. Part of that is from living in North Carolina for quite a few years, but I give most of the credit to his wife, Delana, who is a pedigreed Southerner. Way to go, Delana!
Sometimes I wonder how driver Jimmie Johnson and his crew chief Chad Knaus can even understand what anyone says in their transplanted home state. To me their not hard to understand, but in the NASCAR of the 1970’s, I doubt that they would have had the success that they’ve had.
Most of the crew wouldn’t have been able to understand most of what they said!
I used to play, and still have friends who hit a little white ball with a stick called “goff” or “gawf”, depending upon how many beers the player has had. I think the real word is “golf”, but it seems that if you pronounce it that way, you’re either from the North or totally sober.
I used to have a boss in North Carolina who once said that he was basically a “farfarter, I put out fars all day.” I think he meant “firefighter”, but with bosses, who knows what the heck they’re talking about sometimes?
NASCAR certainly has it’s share of Southern residents involved in the sport, though not in many of the driver’s seats anymore. Many of the crew chiefs, and even some of the owners are as Southern as they can get. Many of them have managed to lose the Southern accent, but often you will hear some things that must be almost incomprehensible to people, say, from the great state of Minnesota.
“This dang ole back end keeps tryin to tarn on me!” “Just keep ‘er up thar, bud. Keep a hittin yore marks!” “OK, guys. Four tars and a half round a wedge in the rot rear.” “Keep a gittin it!”
I’m certainly not being critical of these folks. Heck, I’m about as Southern as I can be. I particular love hearing Bill Elliot talk. Now folks, when you hear Awesome Bill talk, you know exactly what a North Georgia mountain boy sounds like. I really miss Ward Burton, because he exemplifies the sound of Southern Virginia. “Mah name is Wah Button.” I miss that so much.
No, folks, I’m the last person to be critical. People have complained over the years that Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr. were pretty much speaking a foreign language, or so it sounded. I understand that accent perfectly, because I’ve got the same one. I’ve lived most of my life within 100 miles of Mooresville, North Carolina, so to me, it’s the way most people talk around here.
“I’ll be dad gummed” is one you hear often during NASCAR races. I can forgive Larry McReynolds for saying it, because he’s from Alabama. But Ole DW? Darrell is from Owensboro, Kentucky, which is right across the river from Indiana. Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman are both from Indiana, and I’ve never them “dad gum” anything.
I enjoy how some drivers seem to be becoming “Southernized.” Kevin Harvick, who is from Bakersfield, California, does not have a Southern accent, but occasionally he will pronounce a word or two with a distinct Southern flavor to it. Part of that is from living in North Carolina for quite a few years, but I give most of the credit to his wife, Delana, who is a pedigreed Southerner. Way to go, Delana!
Sometimes I wonder how driver Jimmie Johnson and his crew chief Chad Knaus can even understand what anyone says in their transplanted home state. To me their not hard to understand, but in the NASCAR of the 1970’s, I doubt that they would have had the success that they’ve had.
Most of the crew wouldn’t have been able to understand most of what they said!
Denny Hamlin Has Arrived
It would seem that the winner of the blade battle is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin. At least so far. 5 wins since NASCAR restored the blade, or the rear spoiler, if you will, cannot lie.
It’s curious why JGR seems to have such a handle on the blade and nobody else can seem to figure it out after all this time. I think I have the answer though: Denny Hamlin has arrived.
“All we do is win” has been the number 11’s battle cry over these 5 wins. The team is on track. The cars are great. Right now, the driver’s great too. It would seem that Denny Hamlin has experienced a few sophomore seasons, and he has finally come into his own.
It’s not a matter of whether you like Denny Hamlin or not, but he’s a lot like Kyle Busch or Jimmie Johnson in the last couple of years: You cannot deny what he’s done. He’s a winner, and he seems to keep on winning. When it comes right down to it, winning is pretty important, if not everything.
Denny Hamlin rubs some people the wrong way, but so does every driver.
That’s what NASCAR is all about. It’s favorites and least favorites. That’s the way it’s always been.
It’s curious why JGR seems to have such a handle on the blade and nobody else can seem to figure it out after all this time. I think I have the answer though: Denny Hamlin has arrived.
“All we do is win” has been the number 11’s battle cry over these 5 wins. The team is on track. The cars are great. Right now, the driver’s great too. It would seem that Denny Hamlin has experienced a few sophomore seasons, and he has finally come into his own.
It’s not a matter of whether you like Denny Hamlin or not, but he’s a lot like Kyle Busch or Jimmie Johnson in the last couple of years: You cannot deny what he’s done. He’s a winner, and he seems to keep on winning. When it comes right down to it, winning is pretty important, if not everything.
Denny Hamlin rubs some people the wrong way, but so does every driver.
That’s what NASCAR is all about. It’s favorites and least favorites. That’s the way it’s always been.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
What Makes A Great Driver?
Since this is an opinion column, what you are going to read here is totally my opinion and nothing else. I’ve been watching this sport for quite a while, and I’m more than happy to give you my opinion. I’d be interested in hearing your opinion too.
In the old days, most NASCAR drivers came from the South, and literally grew up racing. Some started in go carts and eventually graduated to full sized race cars. Some came from other areas of racing, driving various types of open wheel race cars, and made occasional forays into NASCAR. Some got hooked on stock cars, some just dabbled in the sport.
Since about 1990 or so, NASCAR has experienced an invasion of drivers from other parts of the country who have made it big in the sport. Jeff Gordon came to NASCAR from California by way of Indiana. Tony Stewart came directly from Indiana, as did Ryan Newman. Juan Pablo Montoya came all the way from Colombia. Guess what? It’s all been good for the sport.
A great driver obviously must have talent. Talent is why you and me aren’t currently employed driving in NASCAR’s top series and earning millions of dollars and flying around in our own private jets. Talent isn’t always the only part of the equation however.
A truly great driver must have somewhat of a personality that people either love or hate. Richard Petty was a great driver just on his wins alone, but he was and is an genuinely nice guy, always happy to sign autographs for the fans. Dale Earnhardt was a rather polarizing driver, who while he was alive angered many fans and also grabbed the admiration of many others. Since Dale’s death in 2001, he’s mostly been remembered in a positive way, as the man who changed the sport forever.
There are a few young guns in NASCAR who could certainly be considered potentially great drivers. I would include Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch in that list. I would include Kasey Kahne. History will dictate just how great these drivers will be remembered when their driving days are done. All three of these drivers exhibit a ton of talent, and Kyle Busch alone has enough personality for all three. There are certainly other drivers who may eventually be known as great drivers as well. I’ll leave that list up to you.
In the old days, most NASCAR drivers came from the South, and literally grew up racing. Some started in go carts and eventually graduated to full sized race cars. Some came from other areas of racing, driving various types of open wheel race cars, and made occasional forays into NASCAR. Some got hooked on stock cars, some just dabbled in the sport.
Since about 1990 or so, NASCAR has experienced an invasion of drivers from other parts of the country who have made it big in the sport. Jeff Gordon came to NASCAR from California by way of Indiana. Tony Stewart came directly from Indiana, as did Ryan Newman. Juan Pablo Montoya came all the way from Colombia. Guess what? It’s all been good for the sport.
A great driver obviously must have talent. Talent is why you and me aren’t currently employed driving in NASCAR’s top series and earning millions of dollars and flying around in our own private jets. Talent isn’t always the only part of the equation however.
A truly great driver must have somewhat of a personality that people either love or hate. Richard Petty was a great driver just on his wins alone, but he was and is an genuinely nice guy, always happy to sign autographs for the fans. Dale Earnhardt was a rather polarizing driver, who while he was alive angered many fans and also grabbed the admiration of many others. Since Dale’s death in 2001, he’s mostly been remembered in a positive way, as the man who changed the sport forever.
There are a few young guns in NASCAR who could certainly be considered potentially great drivers. I would include Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch in that list. I would include Kasey Kahne. History will dictate just how great these drivers will be remembered when their driving days are done. All three of these drivers exhibit a ton of talent, and Kyle Busch alone has enough personality for all three. There are certainly other drivers who may eventually be known as great drivers as well. I’ll leave that list up to you.
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