Erik Jones

Erik has justified his place in Cup. The Bristol night race springs to mind.
 
A better question would be, how many did JJ wreck this year, even with his 15 years of Cup experience; how many did Kyle Busch wreck in his 13th year of Cup; or Logano (9 years)?

It was a bummer that Erik Jones spun and wrecked last Sunday, but Jimmie did the same while running slower. So there's that. Both Jones and Suarez have had phenomenal rookie years IMO. Both have impressed me greatly.

Mister Taco worships at the alter of Chase Elliott and all things Hendrick. I'm sure that, by this point in the 2018 schedule, all four Hendrick drivers will have multiple wins... and these hate threads for the Toyota young guns will fade away.

Hendrick will have a rookie, a young gun, Chase, Jimmy and a new car. Save it for next year's comparisons. I know I am going to. I don't think either of them have been that impressive this year so far a 6 out of 10. Elliott smoked them his first year in cup, Blaney not so much about the same as these two. Next year we get to rate some more.
 
A better question would be, how many did JJ wreck this year, even with his 15 years of Cup experience; how many did Kyle Busch wreck in his 13th year of Cup; or Logano (9 years)?

It was a bummer that Erik Jones spun and wrecked last Sunday, but Jimmie did the same while running slower. So there's that. Both Jones and Suarez have had phenomenal rookie years IMO. Both have impressed me greatly.

Mister Taco worships at the alter of Chase Elliott and all things Hendrick. I'm sure that, by this point in the 2018 schedule, all four Hendrick drivers will have multiple wins... and these hate threads for the Toyota young guns will fade away.

IMO, the problem with the dislike has to do with the manufacturer and not the drivers as I firmly believe that if Jones left for HMS and Suarez for Penske they would be accepted and celebrated.
 
On one hand I am disappointed in the season that Jones has had but that is mainly because I had read that this guy was some sort of generational talent like Jimmie Johnson. On the other hand the kid is really young so I will reserve judgement on him.

How many years ago were people writing off Joey Logano and Kyle Larson? In contrast, a lot of people thought Kasey Kahne was going to win multiple championships based on how he performed in his first three seasons.
 
I know I'm a bit of a homer on this topic, but IMO Erik has had a string of bad luck, mostly not of his own fault, since the Chase started.

Charlotte, Talladega and Kansas he was either caught up in a wreck or had an issue with the car which required an extended or multiple trips to pit road under green.

Chicagoland was multiple issues on pit road (speeding, etc) which caused him to be off the lead lap most of the day.

New Hampshire, he finished 6th.

Dover, he had a top 12 finish.

Overall he has 4 top 5 and 12 top 10 so far this year and is currently leading the ROTY standings. He's a young kid still getting his feet wet in this very competitive series, but he's been able to hold is own. He's been a threat to win multiple races this year (Bristol, Michigan, Pocono, Darlington to name a few) and I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to grab his first win before the end of the season. The kid has talent and has earned his spot in the MENCS.
 
He’s 19th in points...means he’s better then 21 other guys. Start up team, start up crew, start up crew chief, but he’s shown speed and you can’t teach that. This thread will go away when he’s in the 20 next year
 
so far this year he has had

18 finishes 15th or better
12 were in the top ten
4 were in the top 5......several of these he had a chance to win

8 finishes 31 and lower

not bad for a rookie!
 
KDB and the Jones boy in the same sentence...not good.

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I fully agree with that. Not to mention how closely Erik is tired to KyBu. I'm willing to bet that if you hate Kyle your not a fan of Erik either.
I was wondering why I am not a fan of him. I wasn't a fan of win or crash Gordon either.
 
come on kid grow up. Jones is the only one on preachers team I can stand after Kenseth leaves.
 
We've just been spoiled guys, look at the class of stars we have.

1999-Tony Stewart- Won 3 races as a rookiec competitive in points.
2000- Kenseth won as a rookie. Jr. Won as a rookie
2001- Harvick won twice as a rookie, was good. Kurt Busch also won once (I believe)
2002- Johnson won 3 times and lead points as rookie. Newman won, and finished top 5 in points
2003-Biffle sneaked out a win
2004-Kahne had all those 2nd place finishers
2005- Edwards won 4 times, tied for 2nd in points. Kyle Busch won twice
2006. Hamlin sweeps Pocono, 2nd in points.

All of the stars of today were competitive and won races right from the get go, and were stars right from the get go. We are used to that.

Man, the rookie class that came out of the early 2000s was the best we've seen in the sport. No disrespect to the Rustys, Bill Elliots, Rudd and Jarretts but they took over the sport right away.

Frankly I don't see any of these young guys having legit success until this class gets old and steps away. Keselowski was an exception but he's been around for quite a while too
 
We've just been spoiled guys, look at the class of stars we have.

1999-Tony Stewart- Won 3 races as a rookiec competitive in points.
2000- Kenseth won as a rookie. Jr. Won as a rookie
2001- Harvick won twice as a rookie, was good. Kurt Busch also won once (I believe)
2002- Johnson won 3 times and lead points as rookie. Newman won, and finished top 5 in points
2003-Biffle sneaked out a win
2004-Kahne had all those 2nd place finishers
2005- Edwards won 4 times, tied for 2nd in points. Kyle Busch won twice
2006. Hamlin sweeps Pocono, 2nd in points.

All of the stars of today were competitive and won races right from the get go, and were stars right from the get go. We are used to that.

Man, the rookie class that came out of the early 2000s was the best we've seen in the sport. No disrespect to the Rustys, Bill Elliots, Rudd and Jarretts but they took over the sport right away.

Frankly I don't see any of these young guys having legit success until this class gets old and steps away. Keselowski was an exception but he's been around for quite a while too

Times have changed, the cars have changed and Nascar has changed. All these changes have changed the sport drastically and rookies today don't get the same opportunities to showcase their talent. However having said that we can still watch what they do under difficult situations and get a strong inkling of what they will do or be capable of in the future.
One good example of what I am saying is Joey. That kid never had a chance against the egos at JGR so he looked like a failure until he got a new ride.
 
Preacher Gibbs hasn't proven to be driver friendly. Joey and Matt prove that .Jones my have stepped from the frying pan into the fire
 
Preacher Gibbs hasn't proven to be driver friendly. Joey and Matt prove that .Jones my have stepped from the frying pan into the fire

How has JGR been unfriendly to drivers? They plucked DJ from obscurity, were very good to Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart, gave JJ Yeley a reallllllllly extended look and gave Jason Leffler a shot as well as JLo. Denny Hamlin won his job on merit, Carl Edwards career was revived as was Matt Kenseth's and 2 rookies are being given an opportunity now. How on earth does any of this equate to an organization not being driver friendly?
 
Preacher Gibbs hasn't proven to be driver friendly. Joey and Matt prove that .Jones my have stepped from the frying pan into the fire
Gibbs' teams have 73 wins over the past 10 seasons and double that number since startup.

Clearly, being "driver-friendly" is not required. So much Oprah ...
 
I have a feeling 18 and 11 don't look at Suarez as a threat yet. It could be that Gibbs finally saw the light after Joey was gone and had a "come to Jesus meeting" with them. Who knows but the fact that Hamlin went after Joey a couple times when in the Penske car shows that he still harbored ill feelings.
 
I have a feeling 18 and 11 don't look at Suarez as a threat yet. It could be that Gibbs finally saw the light after Joey was gone and had a "come to Jesus meeting" with them. Who knows but the fact that Hamlin went after Joey a couple times when in the Penske car shows that he still harbored ill feelings.

You are working too hard. Joey wasn't ready. JGR got him ready, and then had to move him. Home Depot you will recall had had enough. JGR and Toyota said at the time that they knew they had done the development work, and now somebody else would reap the rewards. There is no evidence of a diseased climate at JGR, and now you are making up a meeting that you have no proof happened to justify the Suarez success. Come on man. BTW, Denny isn't the only one who has gone after Joey, right?
 
Your right. Jealousy has no bounds as many drivers who dumped Danica on purpose for TV time has proven. I hold you on high esteem for your posts are living proof that a person can totally disregard anything that would suggest that JGR and staff are anything less than supreme beings.
 
Yes I am a Chase fan, but anyone from the past that stated EJ has more talent than Chase is wrong. I guess if you call continually driving over your head and wrecking "talent" you have your kid in EJ.
 
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Takes out of the playoffs Kenseth the driver he is replacing next year and his other team mate Suarez last week. Back up car for Martinsville this week.

 
in other words Jones is wrecking his way to greatness?


I’d agree Jones is awfully good. Maybe it’s the style he came up in, but I believe Larson and Bell are more talented drivers. IMO hardly anyone talks about Bell and he may be the most skilled of them all
 
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