A lot depends on what some define as "improved".
Terry LaBonte has had his credentials established for a loooooooooong time. He has not improved. His team has.
Kevin Harvick. Improved from what and to what?? From being a "here I come, get outa my way" driver with a surly attitude to a more, at times, composed driver with better team communication. Don't forget he went from Greg Biffle to Ricky Rudd. He has the ability and his "improvement" comes at the hand of team communication and owner guidance.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. definitely decided if he were going to be a force to be reckoned with in this series, it could not be on name alone. He now understands results are necessary. The ability is there, the desire was absent and a higher priority placed on party time than racing. Junior has changed all that.
Bobby LaBonte. What change?? Some bad luck and lousy calls but his talent and ability are on the top of the heap. Change?? Improvement ??? People go from heroes to zeros in evry occupation and endeavor. Most of the things that have happened to Bobby this year year are out of his control.
Joe Nemechek went from mediocre cars to top line equipment. There goes the theory Hendrick gives Gordon the best and uses the other teams for
R & D.
Robbie Gordon. Went from chief antagonizer to "hang on, we might win this" and has shown some improvement but still has a long way to go. His good finishes are pit strategy and "go ahead and cry. I'll do it my way". Now, if he just wouldn't over drive the car...............
Steve Park has had so much unfortunate stuff happen he holds the championship title of "Mr. Unfortunate". Hate to say it but Steve has lost a bit of his edge and it isn't all because of team communication or equipment. And that is sad.
Ward Burton. If there is a wreck on the track, look to see if Ward is in it. Why is it this guy is in the middle of more accidents not of his making than anyone else ??? There is ability there but he sure does know how to find trouble. As an old wag (97Forever) said in another thread, FoMoCo should give BDR proper funding, keep Wad in the car and let him go do his thing. Maybe they should put a GPS system in to help Wad find his way out of potential danger. Just a suggestion.
And for the most improved driver, my bid goes to Michael Waltrip.
What can you say about improvement ??? This guy has spent twenty years honing his skills and finally, finally, is showing something for those twenty years of practicing with everybody elses money, time and equipment. If his name were not Waltrip, would anyone else have given him so many chances?? So far he is having a good year. Only time will tell if he will retained enough from all those years of practice. Somehow, I get the feeling if he had a different personality, and last name, he woulda been out of a ride before he ever started in the WCS.
Now these are my opinions. Please feel free to share yours.
