Driver's longevity

buckaroo

buckaroo

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I wonder in today's market, what the longevity for the drivers will be. For a good many years, the circuit was set with the most experienced drivers. Some of those drivers went from one team to another, but those were the journeyman drivers who were never a real threat to win, but owners knew they could wheel a car and thus were an easy pick for a seat. Today however, owners are looking not at experience, but raw tallent in hopes of finding what has been called, the "next Jeff Gordon". These new kids are expected to do well right off the bat instead of learning the ropes like the old way. With big bucks in sponsorship on the line, who can blame the owners? However, in the past, the owners mostly looked in the south for late model drivers to find new tallent. These days, they look over the entire country and full bodied cars aren't the only racing they look at. Probably won't be long before they begin to look throughout the world for the tallent. It will be interesting to see just how long these new warriors last. And, with the tallent pool getting bigger all the time, will a driver ever really have a chance to win more than a couple of titles again. But of course, winning more than one has always been a very hard thing to do. Even one is hard to accomplish.
 
Very good questions Buck.

I've gotta drink more coffee this morning before I can make a semi intelligent comment.
 
Well, you can't really blame Nascar for trying, but the talent pool is huge. So many young drivers are just waiting to be discovered as "The Next Jeff Gordon" and there are so many different styles of racing.
I like the "Driver Development" programs that search for and help young drivers to get seat time.
The old school type of driver development has passed away, may it rest in peace, but then again I'm old school.
I honestly believe that Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr, Brian Vickers and some other rookies have a shot at lasting a while.
As we grow older, Nascar goes younger! :D
 
Eagle1 said:
Very good questions Buck.

I've gotta drink more coffee this morning before I can make a semi intelligent comment.
Click to expand...

Caffine addiction is hazardous to your health (as I light up a cigarette) :eek:
 
LOL @ Kat

Well I've cut way down from 7 or 8 pots a day to just a couple cups in the morning, but today is at least a gallon day. LOL And of course if I drink more coffee I'll have to smoke a few extra cigarettes.
 
I doubt that any of the youngsters will drive past 40.

Eagle, I sympathize about the coffee addiction. I managed to cut mine down by drinking a half decaf/half real. That, and the heart doctor told me to get rid of as much caffeine as possible. Found a decaf iced tea that is really good. Still keep the 1 real soda a day though. LOL
 
I sure understand that staying away from caffiene. I am not supposed to have ANY!!! But...............when we go out, I do drink iced tea, and that, I am sure is NOT de-caf. LOL Sooo, I do try to limit my intake of iced tea. At home I can make my decaf tea, if I like.

As for the new drivers??? well, Jeff came from open wheel, sprints and Silver Crown racing. He'd been racing since he was 4 or 5 years old. Several other drivers were from that same background. Jeff did do "time" in BGN, LOL, before coming up to CUP. Others of the young ones and older ones as well, came from WoO, ASA, ARCA, USAR, and so on. I simply think that this will still be the primary source of new drivers. Different teams have their "Development Programs" and are bringing up new drivers through these same series, including the Grand National Series too. I have NO Worries, that the well spring of new drivers will ever dry up. We will always have a "possible" Jeff Gordon hiding somewhere in these series out there. all we have to do is find them at the right time.
 
The topic is "drivers longevity". There is no question that the supply of young drivers is at an all time high and will keep increasing. I believe the day of the long career drivers in Nascar is is about to expire. The more popular that Nascar becomes the more the competition will increase.
 
20 years is about it in the Cup series........seems that is just about what it's been forever, too!! :) Jeff's already been around 12 years so 7 or 8 more and he's there with that 20 years thing. But, remember we are talking about the most successful drivers with that long of a career.........many "retire" much sooner!! :)

Speaking of the next "Jeff Gordon" in the winds...........y'all might not have to look much further than the current Busch series Champion. :D Unless something really unexpected comes along, Martin Truex Jr is running the Busch series again next year instead of moving up quickly to the Cup!! Pretty smart move in my opinion. With that experience, plus I'm sure some Cup races next season (under the 7 or whatever the limit is to maintain a rookie status when he does come full time) there will some very impressed folks in this forum!! :) Any bets who he might drive for? :beerbang: :beerbang:
 
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