Just a thought, doesn't mean a thing...

[buckaroo]

Watching the banquet for a short time and I got to thinking...we all know that Jimmy Johnson is talented enough and has the team to win championhips, but in reality, he could end up like Mark Martin and come so close so often only to miss out. Now I'm not much of a fan of Jimmy's, but with all the success he's had early on, it sure would be a shame if that did indeed happen. I really have sympathy for all those Martin fans who have been so close yet nothing yet. Of course there is always next year, but Mark has few "next years" left and Jimmy has many.

Of course, there are many sports in which the best player has gone without winning a title and we all can name many of them. However, few if any, drivers have been able to succeed in the many of Mark Martin and still not take home the title. For many years now, I've been describing Mark as the best driver never to win the title, but I am hoping, with all that I have, that Mark will be able to make me eat my words next year. And, while I don't even think for a moment that Jimmy will ever come close to that description, I wish him luck as well, but not so close in the future.

 

[Patrick9999]

And it's not like Nascar is getting less competitive. Not to take anything away from other drivers but Martin had to race against two of the best ever - in their prime.

It seems to me that many of todays top drivers will never win a championship.

 

[muggle not]

It is very possible that some of today's top drivers may never win a championship but I would be very surprised if Jimmie Johnson does not win one or if Jeff Gordon does not win a few more.

 

[Whizzer]

I said it before and I'll say it again............

Mark Martin is one of the best drivers, ever, to run in NASCAR.

He has lost championships because he is too nice a guy and not aggressive enough when it counts. Recalling one particular race in 2004, toward the end of the drive leading up to the C4C, Mark put on a driving exhibition that made fans who had never noticed his driving ability, sit up and take notice. This forum and others were filled with coments about Marks aggressivness in that single race.

Until Mark drives consistently as he did in that race, he will be the best driver who never won a championship.
In the past, Mark Martin let Dale Earnhardt take at least two championships away because he was not intensely aggressive. Being a nice guy and having the respect of your peers is one thing, but Dale Earnhardt showed the world you can be a dick on the track and still have friends, fans and respect. Mark needs to think about that and decide which is the most important to him. To go down in history as the best driver to never win a championsip or to be known as a guy who did what he had to do to win the championship.

It would like be great to see Mark kick some ass and win one championship. He not only deserves it, but he is has proven time and again he has every ingredient necessary to be the NASCAR Champion.

 

[24thunder]

I too would like to see Mark Martin,along with Ricky Rudd and Jeff Burton,win a Title,but Mark Martin is a Champion,regardless if He gets a Cup trophy or not,just by the respect He comands from His peers and fans.