1) Jeff Gordon
2) Joey Logano
3) Kevin Harvick
4) Brad Keselowski
5) Jimmie Johnson
6) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
---------------------------- Significant dropoff
My list would be essentially identical to yours. The only difference would be that I would put Harvick above Joey and Brad. I feel like darn near every week, Jeff and Harv are at the front together at some point, with the Penske boys not too far behind. Harv could definitely be sitting on more than two wins right now. Subpar performances by his crew and mechanical attrition have robbed him a few times this year IMO. Heck, Gordon could have a couple more wins too.1) Jeff Gordon
2) Joey Logano
3) Kevin Harvick
4) Brad Keselowski
5) Jimmie Johnson
6) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
---------------------------- Significant dropoff
This^1) Jeff Gordon
2) Joey Logano
3) Kevin Harvick
4) Brad Keselowski
5) Jimmie Johnson
6) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
---------------------------- Significant dropoff
Heck, I'd throw Jr. ahead of everyone on that list other than Gordon. He was only one Harvick eff up from being points leader. Had a solid run again last weekend.Also I would probably put Jr ahead of Jimmie... but its Jimmie so....
Okay, top five drivers this year regardless of points...
1) Jeff Gordon
2) Joey Logano
3) Brad Kez
4) Kevin Harvick
5) Jimmie Johnson
Go....
I had him in spikes game...Heck, I'd throw Jr. ahead of everyone on that list other than Gordon. He was only one Harvick eff up from being points leader. Had a solid run again last weekend.
15th in points with 2 top 5's and 3 DNF's lol.. and Juan car somewhere hanging out with Kurt Busch and Casey Mears2) Kyle Larson (Where would Ganassi racing be this year without him?)
What's your criteria? I'm going with importance of their accomplishments to their organization.
1) A.J. Allmendinger (JTG will benefit from that win for years to come)
2) Kyle Larson (Where would Ganassi racing be this year without him?)
3) Joey Logano (In 2 short years he's taken the 22 from the ashes of the Kurt and A.J mess to true contenders)
4) Dale Jr (Huge for the sport, but also makes securing full sponsorship much easier)
5) Kevin Harvick (Where would SHR be without him?)
I'm really looking forward to the Chase!
Only said that coz you said screw the chase.
But otherwise pretty bang on with the drivers...
Criteria....The best year--not feel good stories, but the fastest cars driven well by the best drivers of the year. IMO, Gordon hands down. He has been bad fast almost everywhere. When he lost the pole in Fontana, the dude looked like he was going to kill somebody. He has the look of a Champion. I am impressed.
It was awfully close; if this were posted last week I would've had Harvick just ahead of Logano.My list would be essentially identical to yours. The only difference would be that I would put Harvick above Joey and Brad. I feel like darn near every week, Jeff and Harv are at the front together at some point, with the Penske boys not too far behind. Harv could definitely be sitting on more than two wins right now. Subpar performances by his crew and mechanical attrition have robbed him a few times this year IMO. Heck, Gordon could have a couple more wins too.
The only thing I'm waiting for Jr. to do is go out and dominate a race and win like all of the others have. He's been a consistent Top 5 driver all year long but the Pocono wins kinda fell into his lap. Gordon at Indy and arguably Michigan, Logano at Texas, Keselowski at Kentucky and New Hampshire, Harvick at Phoenix and Darlington, Jimmie at Charlotte and Dover - all performances where they led a big chunk of the race and were really the driver to beat on that day.This^
Its crazy how much that dropoff is... It will be one of these drivers that wins the cup.
... a few mechanical problems and a Morgan Shepard less and we might be saying Joey at the top spot.
Also I would probably put Jr ahead of Jimmie... but its Jimmie so....
right where they are...1 car maybe in the chase and it's not Menard...consistent running mid-pack...without daddy's money, he probably wouldn't even be mid-pack.Menard quietly races consistent. Reminds me of a little of Mark Martin. Where would RCR be without him?
right where they are...1 car maybe in the chase and it's not Menard...consistent running mid-pack...without daddy's money, he probably wouldn't even be mid-pack.
I think the argument with Menard though is that he wouldn't have gotten many of the rides he's had if he didn't have built-in sponsorship wherever he goes. In his case it's not just someone's money, it's his father's money. John Menard is highly unlikely to pull the plug on his son sponsorship-wise if the performance is not there, whereas other sponsors would likely flee to another driver if the performance was lacking.I'm not sure where any of these drivers would be without someone's money. I never quite understood the argument.
i don't think he would be at RCR without having his daddy's money. would Richard have him if it wasn't guaranteed money? as hard as sponsorship is to get, without his daddy, do you think he would have an interest from RCR.I'm not sure where any of these drivers would be without someone's money. I never quite understood the argument.
The guy is a winner in the Cup Series. Not a bit of shame in that regardless of who's footing the bill. As a father, if one of my children had a dream to accomplish a particular goal, and I had the means, I'd be behind them 100%. I'd hope that anyone would do the same for their children. The guy obviously has talent. That's been proven. Perhaps not to the extent of the high demands of racing-forums.com but that's kinda the norm on here anyway.I think the argument with Menard though is that he wouldn't have gotten many of the rides he's had if he didn't have built-in sponsorship wherever he goes. In his case it's not just someone's money, it's his father's money. John Menard is highly unlikely to pull the plug on his son sponsorship-wise if the performance is not there, whereas other sponsors would likely flee to another driver if the performance was lacking.
i think it's great his father has the means to support his sons love of racing and is willing to do it. the bottom line is performance. and in reference to this thread, RCR has no driver that qualifies IMO.The guy is a winner in the Cup Series. Not a bit of shame in that regardless of who's footing the bill. As a father, if one of my children had a dream to accomplish a particular goal, and I had the means, I'd be behind them 100%. I'd hope that anyone would do the same for their children. The guy obviously has talent. That's been proven. Perhaps not to the extent of the high demands of racing-forums.com but that's kinda the norm on here anyway.
I like Menard and would like to see him win some more, but overall the stat line is pretty unimpressive: one fuel-mileage win in 279 starts and a career high points finish of 16th.The guy is a winner in the Cup Series. Not a bit of shame in that regardless of who's footing the bill. As a father, if one of my children had a dream to accomplish a particular goal, and I had the means, I'd be behind them 100%. I'd hope that anyone would do the same for their children. The guy obviously has talent. That's been proven. Perhaps not to the extent of the high demands of racing-forums.com but that's kinda the norm on here anyway.
I like Menard and would like to see him win some more, but overall the stat line is pretty unimpressive: one fuel-mileage win in 279 starts and a career high points finish of 16th.
I like Menard and would like to see him win some more, but overall the stat line is pretty unimpressive: one fuel-mileage win in 279 starts and a career high points finish of 16th.
Yep, I'm a Menard fan but his stats are pretty pedestrian. There has never been a single race in his career where he's led a bunch of laps or dominated. He takes care of his equipment and runs top 20 but that's about all he's capable of. I give him credit for developing into a solid driver though, he's leaps and bounds better then when he first started out.
Hell you and the wife already burn your candles at both ends and in the middle. Run here, run there, get this, get that, take them here, take them there. All in making sure that both of your kids get every possible chance to achieve whatever they want. Track, discus. shot put, soccer, basketball, you name it. If it was racing there's no doubt it would be the same way.The guy is a winner in the Cup Series. Not a bit of shame in that regardless of who's footing the bill. As a father, if one of my children had a dream to accomplish a particular goal, and I had the means, I'd be behind them 100%. I'd hope that anyone would do the same for their children. The guy obviously has talent. That's been proven. Perhaps not to the extent of the high demands of racing-forums.com but that's kinda the norm on here anyway.
Now that I think of it, Newman is the only RCR driver that doesn't have tremendous family backing. Even Scott and Gaughan in Nationwide are there because of their families' finances.i don't think he would be at RCR without having his daddy's money. would Richard have him if it wasn't guaranteed money? as hard as sponsorship is to get, without his daddy, do you think he would have an interest from RCR.
Now that I think of it, Newman is the only RCR driver that doesn't have tremendous family backing. Even Scott and Gaughan in Nationwide are there because of their families' finances.