1q. Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, or Kevin Harvick, pick one as greatest driver

[Greg]

Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, or Kevin Harvick, pick one as greatest driver. It is round one of the greatest driver ever tournament.


Remember you are only allowed one vote per poll, and this poll will close in 3 days.

Pick just one. Name /Wins/Championships/ Win percentage-Poll closes in 3 days




Thomas, Herb * 48 * 2 * 21.05

Baker, Buck * 46 * 2 * 0

Harvick, Kevin * 18 * 0 * 4.57%

 

[klemmabyna]

that win % for herb thomas....

thomas and baker raced against each other for thomas' entire career. the matchup numbers:

Total races in this series: 170
First race: 1949-01
Last race: 1962 Gwyn Staley 400 (1962-12)

Head-to-Head
Herb Thomas 90 wins
Buck Baker 80 wins

Actual Race Stats

Wins
Herb Thomas 36
Buck Baker 24

Top 5's
Herb Thomas 93
Buck Baker 89

Top 10's
Herb Thomas 123
Buck Baker 125

Avg. Finish
Herb Thomas 8.4
Buck Baker 8.6

 

[FlFlash]

Very good overview Klem

 

[Greg]

One thing that hurt Buck Baker stats and quite a few other legends was that he raced to long.


His last cup race was in 1976 at 56 or 57 years old, (born in 1919), long after his last cup win in the 1964 Southern 500 (about 12 years).


He didn't run full time in the later years, but enough to damage his win % [still good, but suffering a drag from 1965 forward.]

I saw Buck run a Grand American race in 71, or 72. He was already legend status then, glad I got to see him race. But that wasn't a good representation of the man and legend.



I saw DW, and Richard Petty wither away like Buck Baker.

Folks who only saw their last few years rightly have no concept of just how wickedly good and fast they were in their prime.


90 percent of the drivers start a decline at 45 y/o. It is sad to say good bye, but legacies do suffer. Elliott, the Labontes, and Martin are hurting theirs now.


I hope when Gordon hits 45, he has better sense. If you under 30, you may not agree, but when you see the next generation of fans come along you don't want them thinking they saw the real Gordon, while having no real personal knowledge of his glory days.


I have seen before, it ain't pretty.


Herb Thomas ran his last cup race at in 1962
Born in 1923 he retired prior to age 40.


Still not sure on my vote.

 

[FenderBumper]

Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, or Kevin Harvick, pick one as greatest driver. It is round one of the greatest driver ever tournament.


Remember you are only allowed one vote per poll, and this poll will close in 3 days.

Pick just one. Name /Wins/Championships/ Win percentage-Poll closes in 3 days




Thomas, Herb * 48 * 2 * 21.05

Baker, Buck * 46 * 2 * 0

Harvick, Kevin * 18 * 0 * 4.57%

Buck had a much longer career, and getting it done year after year is a big part of my criteria. BB winning % was 7.2%, T5's 39% and T10's 59%. Herb had 4 or 5 real good year with better numbers, but I have to go with Buck.

 

[FlFlash]

One thing that hurt Buck Baker stats and quite a few other legends was that he raced to long.


His last cup race was in 1976 at 56 or 57 years old, (born in 1919), long after his last cup win in the 1964 Southern 500 (about 12 years).


He didn't run full time in the later years, but enough to damage his win % [still good, but suffering a drag from 1965 forward.]

I saw Buck run a Grand American race in 71, or 72. He was already legend status then, glad I got to see him race. But that wasn't a good representation of the man and legend.



I saw DW, and Richard Petty wither away like Buck Baker.

Folks who only saw their last few years rightly have no concept of just how wickedly good and fast they were in their prime.


90 percent of the drivers start a decline at 45 y/o. It is sad to say good bye, but legacies do suffer. Elliott, the Labontes, and Martin are hurting theirs now.


I hope when Gordon hits 45, he has better sense. If you under 30, you may not agree, but when you see the next generation of fans come along you don't want them thinking they saw the real Gordon, while having no real personal knowledge of his glory days.


I have seen before, it ain't pretty.


Herb Thomas ran his last cup race at in 1962
Born in 1923 he retired prior to age 40.


Still not sure on my vote.

Your right on it Greg, only thing I'd add in Buck Bakers case is he did'nt have a choice but to keep drivering thats how some of the older guys made a living. Hell of a lot better than going back to the farm, pickin cotton or goin in the coal hole.

 

[robbybee]

This one is tough! The only easy part is eliminating Happy from contention...

 

[FlFlash]

This one is tough! The only easy part is eliminating Happy from contention...

That aint right Robbeeee