Did Carl choose the right team to win a championship with?

[FenderBumper]

Roush has won just 2 championships in 24 years of Sprint Cup competition. 124 wins in 2,836 starts. After 19 years, his NW program has 119 wins in 1,120 starts.

Joe Gibbs has 20 years in Cup, with 3 championships and 92 Cup wins in 1358 starts. His NW program has been around 15 years with 66 wins in 800 starts.

 

[BobbyFord]

It's hard to compare the two teams over the past 20 years. The car is not the same, the rules are not the same, the drivers are not the same, crew chiefs and crew members are not the same. All of these are respective factors in the past success of both organizations.
I'd say he chose the correct team. Ford struggled last year but it seems the bugs have been worked out of the FR9 and the RFR software. At this level of racing/competition it is hard to have immediate success when changing changing crew chiefs, let alone organizations.

 

[HoneyBadger]

Both teams can win championships. Remember, Joe Gibbs Racing won the championship for Hamlin last year and Hamlin handed it to Jimmie on a silver platter being an idiot.

 

[HoneyBadger]

It's tough to say though, on the poll.

As a driver, Carl has all the ingredients of a champion (but so did/does Mark). Not sure either of the three Gibbs driver have that yet. I think Kyle will in a year or two, if he continues to mature as a human being. Denny, well, again, his team won it for him last year and he just gave it away.

 

[FenderBumper]

It's tough to say though, on the poll.

As a driver, Carl has all the ingredients of a champion (but so did/does Mark). Not sure either of the three Gibbs driver have that yet. I think Kyle will in a year or two, if he continues to mature as a human being. Denny, well, again, his team won it for him last year and he just gave it away.

IMO, Carl has the calm and communication to win, but at times he still displays poor car control and brain farts. His mental lockup at Talladega in '08 cost him the championship. I think his aero games will catch up to him when he starts using them in the chase. He always seems to react way too late when there is trouble in front of him. He runs into the back of people more than Reutimann does.

 

[BobbyFord]

IMO, Carl has the calm and communication to win, but at times he still displays poor car control and brain farts. His mental lockup at Talladega in '08 cost him the championship. I think his aero games will catch up to him when he starts using them in the chase. He always seems to react way too late when there is trouble in front of him. He runs into the back of people more than Reutimann does.

I seriously doubt that ANYONE in the top 10 Cup series points has "poor car control". Gee whiz, what's the guy gotta do, backflips???
He must be doing SOMETHING right, he leading the series.

 

[carsntunes]

I don't question the skills of the driver as much as the relentless tinkering of the car owner. I think Mark Martin would have won a few championships had it not been for Jack's ability to take things one step too far.

 

[Restrictor Plate King!]

I didn't even realize there was a potential seat open at Gibbs for him but man, that would've been a sweet opportunity if he had taken it. Then again, Roush has been there for Carl, he came up with through the trucks with Roush and they've given him pretty decent equipment it's just that Jimmie's had this awesome run of titles and it's making everyone else look??

 

[HoneyBadger]

I didn't even realize there was a potential seat open at Gibbs for him but man, that would've been a sweet opportunity if he had taken it. Then again, Roush has been there for Carl, he came up with through the trucks with Roush and they've given him pretty decent equipment it's just that Jimmie's had this awesome run of titles and it's making everyone else look??

I don't think it's over yet with Gibbs, The Home Depot wants Logano out of that car. Seeing as Logano's numbers don't, in any way, give Gibbs any reason to keep Logano there, I think it'll happen.

 

[HoneyBadger]

I'd like to see Mark Martin go to Gibbs.

Then I'd have to buy #20 ****.

Also, when does Hamlin's contract expire? I can't imagine Gibbs wanting to keep someone who threw the championship around.

 

[BobbyFord]

I don't think it's over yet with Gibbs, The Home Depot wants Logano out of that car. Seeing as Logano's numbers don't, in any way, give Gibbs any reason to keep Logano there, I think it'll happen.

You might be right. I think Gibbs was looking for a driver for the 20 and Joey would have been in the 4th car (or Nationwide Series). There really aren't any top-notch drivers available.

 

[Spike]

I could see Home Depot going where Mark Martin goes. He is a middle aged everyman who will be competitive in most races, a perfect fit for Home Depot.

I see Logano staying in the #20 with a myriad of sponsorships mirroring Gibb's Nationwide sponsorships(GameStop/Sport Clips/etc.).

 

[FenderBumper]

I seriously doubt that ANYONE in the top 10 Cup series points has "poor car control". Gee whiz, what's the guy gotta do, backflips???
He must be doing SOMETHING right, he leading the series.

Not what I said at all. Fact is, Carl at times displays poor car control. Look at the coke 600. He had all the time in the world to brake on that last restart, but just kept pushing Burton into the wreck. Did the same thing to Gordon at Bristol last year. Sliding up on Logano in the NW race was a car out of control. Speeding past 2 cars on pit road when he couldn't beat Stenhouse on the track. Nailing Denny at Pocono, then hitting him again. The wreck with Biffle at Daytona was a prime example of him trying to play the aero game and making a hard right when he misjudged, causing his pusher (Biffle) to turn him.

IMO, the guy still makes WAY too many mental errors. He's an excellent driver, and sponsors love him, but I'm not sure he is mentally ready. Whens the last time Carl made a great save? He's smooth, but when things go sideways, he seems to disconnect.

 

[chromehorn]

Carl can do it at Roush, both are great teams but I believe Roush has better stuff at the 1.5 tracks, which is like 7 of the 10 races in the Chase.


Plus, Roush took a chance on Carl when no one else would even look at him so theres that loyalty thing to think about. Would have been a dick move to go to another team just because of money in my mind. If Gibbs was a better shot I could see it but I believe that Roush is the better pick for the Chase.

 

[BobbyFord]

Well, we will see. 6 more races til The Chase

 

[MOEJOE]

I'd like to see Mark Martin go to Gibbs.

Then I'd have to buy #20 ****.

Also, when does Hamlin's contract expire? I can't imagine Gibbs wanting to keep someone who threw the championship around.

Hamlin will get replaced when the next best thing is obvious and available. Until then, keeep waiting. Brian Scott is the next best wrecker trophy.

 

[MOEJOE]

Carl can do it at Roush, both are great teams but I believe Roush has better stuff at the 1.5 tracks, which is like 7 of the 10 races in the Chase.


Plus, Roush took a chance on Carl when no one else would even look at him so theres that loyalty thing to think about. Would have been a dick move to go to another team just because of money in my mind. If Gibbs was a better shot I could see it but I believe that Roush is the better pick for the Chase.

JGR has no reliability. Nuff said

 

[blue92]

Doesn't matter neither team will win the Championship because GM owns NA$CAR it will either be Johnson or Gordon this year.

 

[HoneyBadger]

You might be right. I think Gibbs was looking for a driver for the 20 and Joey would have been in the 4th car (or Nationwide Series). There really aren't any top-notch drivers available.

Martin and Vickers are available.

Logano's not a Cup Series caliber driver. I think they're grooming Drew Herring though.

 

[chromehorn]

JGR has no reliability. Nuff said

And they are shutting down their engine shop? If thats true they are not going to be worth a damn if they have to rely on TRD built engines. Just my opinion.

 

[Greg]

I didn't vote because it's impossible to be certain.

Personally I am leaning toward saying he made the right call.
This isn't a slap at the Gibbs drivers, but I do think there's more driver ego there with some justification. Having Kyle, Danny, and Carl all three together might have been just to explosive. Sometimes super teams don't gel.


That's just my un-provable hunch, no qualms with anyone disagreeing, just my 0.2¢

 

[#17D500winner]

I don't think it makes a difference where Edwards is as long as Johnson/Knaus feeling like winning championships.

As for JGR, they let one the best drivers in the history of Nascar get away and got Logano to show for it. What does that tell you?

 

[Mopardh9]

Carl can do it at Roush, both are great teams but I believe Roush has better stuff at the 1.5 tracks, which is like 7 of the 10 races in the Chase.


Plus, Roush took a chance on Carl when no one else would even look at him so theres that loyalty thing to think about. Would have been a dick move to go to another team just because of money in my mind. If Gibbs was a better shot I could see it but I believe that Roush is the better pick for the Chase.

I think you are right , loyalty might have played into this decision. Edwards can drive a loose set up better than most any driver in Cup right now IMO, and he is good at a lot of the 1.5 Mi tracks. I think it was a good decision for him to stay with Jack.

 

[FenderBumper]

I think you are right , loyalty might have played into this decision. Edwards can drive a loose set up better than most any driver in Cup right now IMO, and he is good at a lot of the 1.5 Mi tracks. I think it was a good decision for him to stay with Jack.

That's a bold statement in a series with class A sideways drivers like JJ, Tony, Kyle, Matt, etc. Bowyer and Kahne are also far better at sliding than Carl is, but IMO, JJ is the best by far.

 

[Mopardh9]

That's a bold statement in a series with class A sideways drivers like JJ, Tony, Kyle, Matt, etc. Bowyer and Kahne are also far better at sliding than Carl is, but IMO, JJ is the best by far.

Hmm not sure about that, I've seen Carl drive the hell out of loose car and win. Johnson & Chad by far are the best crew chief/driver combo and IMO that is where JJ has the edge over everyone in Cup.

 

[FenderBumper]

Hmm not sure about that, I've seen Carl drive the hell out of loose car and win. Johnson & Chad by far are the best crew chief/driver combo and IMO that is where JJ has the edge over everyone in Cup.

Chad gets too much credit, IMO. When comparing Carl to Jimmy, JJ is by far the better driver. Jimmy is an amazing wheel man, but usually gets such good cars he doesn't need to drive on the edge. I still remember Kyle trying to bump him out of the way time and time again while JJ drove sideways on turn exit....WHILE giving Kyle the finger out his window. Even before he drove Cup, he impressed Jeff Gordon so much, he invested in his Cup team.

JJ is also very smart. Time and time again, I see him back out of dicey situations and save his car for another try. One day, Kyle MAY be as good, but I doubt Carl will ever rise to that level of driving excellence.