2.1 Richard Petty or Herb Thomas, the greatest sprint cup driver polls continue....

Richard Petty or Herb Thomas, the greatest sprint cup driver polls continues....

  • Petty, Richard * 200 * 7 * 16.89 %

    Votes: 26 92.9%

  • Thomas, Herb * 48 * 2 * 21.05 %

    Votes: 2 7.1%
  • Total voters
    28
  • Poll closed .
Greg

Greg

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Name* Wins* Cup Championships* Win Percentage.

Petty, Richard * 200 * 7 * 16.89 %
Thomas, Herb * 48 * 2 * 21.05 %


Round two of the unofficial unauthorized greatest Sprint Cup driver ever polls.


The Round Two polls will be open for five days. 3 regular days + 2 Holidays to allow voters plenty of time.

Round three will consist of the 8 winners from these polls in round two.

The ranking order for round three will be the same as round two, set by the vote count from this round.
1st- Tiebreaker percentage of votes
2nd- Tiebreaker the original ranking order.
 
The one thing that I think most are leaving out of the equation , is the driver availabity to the fans. Richard Petty had probably made himself more availble to the fans ( signing autographs and such ) than any other driver. And he always had the big Petty smile to go along with it. That's what I think makes him a little more extrordinary over the rest. After all isn't the fans what it's all about?
 
Benevolent One said:
Richard Petty is simply the best ever in my opinion
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BUTT, was it due to his driving ability or superior equipment/knowledge and support. Remember for most of his career He Was the Flagship or Only team Mopar was supporting.
Just something to think about.
 
Greg Sacks told me this story in 1988 about the time Richard Petty had received broken ribs in a crash and continued to drive the following races with his rib cage taped up. He and Richard were the last two in the locker room cleaning up for the trip home when Sacks noticed Petty was very obviously in great pain while showering and getting dressed. He said Petty put his hat and sunglasses on, put a big smile on his face and walked outside to a huge throng of faithful followers who had been anxiously waiting for their King and he stayed until every last autograph was signed. The other drivers had departed long ago after having learned how to successfully avoid fans.
 
Good story Rusty, that's what made him the king.


But he was humble enough to avoid ever letting it go to his head, always there for the people with the steady pepsodent smile.



I am still sorting out who I think drove best, he is in my top few. But one thing is certain he is the best ambassador Nascar has ever had.
 
FlFlash said:
BUTT, was it due to his driving ability or superior equipment/knowledge and support. Remember for most of his career He Was the Flagship or Only team Mopar was supporting.
Just something to think about.
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I've heard that arguement from die hard Dale Earnhardt fans, and it is valid to some extent. However, he still won 200 freaking races. That's just too hard for me to discount when the next driver has about half as many, and the guy who many others consider the best had like 76.
 
FlFlash said:
BUTT, was it due to his driving ability or superior equipment/knowledge and support. Remember for most of his career He Was the Flagship or Only team Mopar was supporting.
Just something to think about.
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I'm of this thought. For much of his career Richard raced in an era where he had far superior equipment as related to most of the field. It reminds me more of Kyle dropping down a series and only racing a select few. That and combine that far more races were ran during a season for much of Petty's early career where most of his numbers were earned. The field is far deeper today than it has ever been and I believe true talent stands out more in this era than ever before. This doesn't mean that I'd vote for Earnhardt as the best ever and it doesn't mean that I'd not vote for Petty. If our votes were simply off the numbers then go ahead and crown Petty now. If we're voting off of talent then we've got something to think about.
 
I was at Daytona for Kyle Petty's first race in the ARCA 200. Lead every lap and won the race in the #44 1978 Dodge Magnum.
 
There's something to be said for being an owner driver early in the sport an organizing better than everyone else. Long before Kulwicki came along, Richard was turning wrenches, driving all night, and racing local yocals who would wreck you without thinking anything of it. He also raced on crappy dirt tracks with ruts and ridges. All of this in a time when even the best team averaged 8 mechanical failures per season.

At the age of 47, Richard won his 200th against the likes of Cale, Allison, DW and Sr. Sr's career took off after many of the greats from the 70's and early 80's retired or aged past their prime.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I'm of this thought. For much of his career Richard raced in an era where he had far superior equipment as related to most of the field. It reminds me more of Kyle dropping down a series and only racing a select few. That and combine that far more races were ran during a season for much of Petty's early career where most of his numbers were earned. The field is far deeper today than it has ever been and I believe true talent stands out more in this era than ever before. This doesn't mean that I'd vote for Earnhardt as the best ever and it doesn't mean that I'd not vote for Petty. If our votes were simply off the numbers then go ahead and crown Petty now. If we're voting off of talent then we've got something to think about.
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Love the thinking there and can't disagree. But let's also not forget that today, getting a ride in the top circuit doesn't totally require being a top notch driver. It takes talent of course, but it also takes a sponsor. Just as it is in the lower series, if you can bring a sponsor with you, you are much more likely to get a ride. Once you have your foot in the door, then talent means much more, but again doesn't mean everything. There are kids all over this country that are great drivers, but will never get a chance at the big time for a variety of reasons. These days we'll never see anyone like Tiny Lund getting a ride. You have to have a pretty face or you aren't going to get into top notch equipment.
 
I'm still of the opinion that Richard Petty only Won 199 races, NASCAR gave him one Win even after finding a 383 CI engine in his car and left side tires on the right. His Fine? just enough points that he did'nt loose his position in points.
 
buckaroo said:
Love the thinking there and can't disagree. But let's also not forget that today, getting a ride in the top circuit doesn't totally require being a top notch driver. It takes talent of course, but it also takes a sponsor. ..... These days we'll never see anyone like Tiny Lund getting a ride. You have to have a pretty face or you aren't going to get into top notch equipment.
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That is so true . Can you imagine Buddy Baker or even (no offence) Jimmy Spencer trying to get a ride today . You have to look like Kasey Kane or Jimmy Johnson or Danica to bring in sponsors today . I wonder how many super talented drivers will never get a look see .
 
ted@economy said:
That is so true . Can you imagine Buddy Baker or even (no offence) Jimmy Spencer trying to get a ride today . You have to look like Kasey Kane or Jimmy Johnson or Danica to bring in sponsors today . I wonder how many super talented drivers will never get a look see .
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What are you talking about? Kezelowski, Biffle, big headed Harvick, Logano and Kurt have rides.
 
MOEJOE said:
Kurt? Great Ride? I want two of whatever you are drinking.
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Miller and Shell weren't top sponsors? Kurt got miller when he still had the dumbo look.

Unless you look like a troll, great talent and a decent personality will eventually get most drivers a good sponsor. Mark Martin looks like a midget mummy, and he has no problem getting sponsors.
 
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