Nationwide Drivers Entering the Cup

C

Captain Coyfish

Guest
5 years ago, I remember watching Logano and Keslowski dominating the Nationwide series and imagining them in cup. Sure enough, they both did go to cup, and everyone knows what happened after that. But now imagine that with some of the top natiownide drivers of today (including the fallen Cup stars). Drivers like:

Justin Allgier
Elliott Sadler
Brian Scott
Sam Hornish Jr
Austin Dillon
Regan Smith
Brian Vickers
Parker Klingerman

Do you think they will be in cup in 5 years? If so, what team? My predictions:

Justin Allgier -- Turner Scott expanded to Cup, and Allgier is one of the drivers brought up to cup.
Elliott Sadler -- Still in Nationwide, as JGR gave him a part time schudule a couple years before and he did pitiful. He is also no longer racing for JGR in NW.
Brian Scott -- He is still in NW, no idea what team.
Sam Hornish Jr -- He is driving a third Penske Racing car in Cup.
Austin Dillon -- Driving for his grandpapa. DUH!
Regan Smith -- Driving for RCR in cup.
Brian Vickers -- Driving the 55 for MWR in cup (another no brainer).
Parker Klingerman -- Driving in cup, maybe for MWR?

Okay, enough about me. What are your predictions? Feel free to include more drivers.
 
I am not sure which one will make it or what team will grab them, but IMO I think it's a good thing that we have comming up each one has their own ways might shake thing up in cup make it more exciting.
 
I'm wonderin if any of those boys make it to cup. More likely some of these guys get there first.

Kyle Larson
Ryan Truex
Darrell Wallece Jr
Jeb Burton
Ty Dillon
Ryan Blaney
 
I don't see Allgier, Scott, Sadler or Smith going to Cup or back to it. If they do, it won't be quality rides. Vickers may have a shot with MWR next year, but if he's not in Cup full time next year I think his Cup days are over. As far as Sam Hornish, I'd personally like to see him back in open wheel. Talented driver, great person but big heavy stock cars ain't working for him, at least on the Cup side so far. A lot of those guys originally mentioned have had their chance and found themselves back in NW for a reason. Allgier and Scott honestly haven't showed anything and Scott can certainly tear some equipment up. Kyle Larson is going somewhere, I think he's hands down the best up and coming talent w/ Ryan Blaney close behind.
 
^^I agree with you about Scott and Sadler not going to cup. However, Smith has way too much talent not to go to cup, and I think many cup owners realize that. As for Allgier, like I said in my main post I forsee Turner Scott going into cup, and Allgier is a no brainer to take there.
 
I think Regan Smith eventually lands a Cup ride again.

Edit -

Also:
Austin Dillon (RCR obviously)
Ty Dillon (RCR as well)
Trevor Bayne (Four-car team for Roush again?)
Ryan Blaney (Penske - I think he ultimately gets the nod over Sam in a few years because he's younger and has a higher ceiling)
Kyle Larson (Don't know how stable Ganassi's future is at this point)
Darrell Wallace Jr. (JGR)
Alex Bowman (Possibly a 4th MWR?)

I know some of these guys (Ty, Bubba, and Blaney) run Nationwide only part-time but they'll be running a full schedule soon enough.
 
With the level of competition in the Cup series and the limited number of open seats in the limited number of competitive teams it really almost comes down to a crapshoot if an up and coming young driver gets the right opportunity in the car and team best suited for that particular driver.
 
Five years... Larson's there, both Dillon brothers are there.. I think Austin is gonna be a better wheelman honestly. I'd love to see Regan Smith in cup but I doubt it. I'm hoping Vickers Excels in the 55 full time 2014 and beyond. I also think Chase Elliott will have some Cup starts within five years.. I'm not sold on Jeb Burton yet but he looks damn fast.
 
DUN24 said:
Five years... Larson's there, both Dillon brothers are there.. I think Austin is gonna be a better wheelman honestly. I'd love to see Regan Smith in cup but I doubt it. I'm hoping Vickers Excels in the 55 full time 2014 and beyond. I also think Chase Elliott will have some Cup starts within five years.. I'm not sold on Jeb Burton yet but he looks damn fast.
Click to expand...
I didn't list Larson simply because unless Ganassi goes under he will be driving for them in cup as he is under contract. Its a bummer for Larson, really, as he deserves a much better ride than Ganassi. I'm sure Hendrick would have loved to take him in.
 
I think we're entering an era where drivers are going to be more patient moving up and spend more time in Trucks and Nationwide first. I don't hear a lot of drivers who start running K&N one year think they're going to be Cup Superstars in five years. They're a lot more measured now. I think Logano's underwhelming performance in the #20 car really tempered expectations about these kids going straight from K&N to Cup. Even Larson, who is a badass ************, is spending some quality time in Nationwide.

Seems like people are gun shy and afraid that, if they're brought up too fast, they'll either become the next Casey Atwood/Joey Logano or they'll become the next Kyle Busch in terms of having too much ego, no humility and no maturity when they get to where they'll need humility and maturity.
 
Captain Coyfish said:
I didn't list Larson simply because unless Ganassi goes under he will be driving for them in cup as he is under contract. Its a bummer for Larson, really, as he deserves a much better ride than Ganassi. I'm sure Hendrick would have loved to take him in.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. Hendrick is committed to Chase Elliott. I don't think Aaron's would be to happy with watching Larson whip Chase's ass every single race.
 
TchainT said:
I think they bring Steven Wallace to Cup. Am I right?
Click to expand...
I got a call from a friend earlier in the year, and he told me that if I wanted a job over on the Nascar side that Rusty Wallace was looking for a hauler driver and that I should send my resume in. My friend is on a team right around the corner from the RWR shop. I looked on Jaski's site and sure enough there was an add from Rusty Wallace with positions open for a hauler driver, fabricator, and a few other positions. But, I hate hauling wrecked race cars so I passed and didn't send my reume in.:D Actually, I just don't want to move from Southern Ca. Here is a link to some news about what they are doing.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/...eve-wallace-return-schedule-nationwide-series
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
I don't know about that. Hendrick is committed to Chase Elliott. I don't think Aaron's would be to happy with watching Larson whip Chase's ass every single race.
Click to expand...
They would probably find a way to make it work, considering Chase won't be in Sprint cup for another 5 years but Larson will be ready by 2014 at latest.

Nitro Dude said:
I got a call from a friend earlier in the year, and he told me that if I wanted a job over on the Nascar side that Rusty Wallace was looking for a hauler driver and that I should send my resume in. My friend is on a team right around the corner from the RWR shop. I looked on Jaski's site and sure enough there was an add from Rusty Wallace with positions open for a hauler driver, fabricator, and a few other positions. But, I hate hauling wrecked race cars so I passed and didn't send my reume in.:D Actually, I just don't want to move from Southern Ca. Here is a link to some news about what they are doing.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/...eve-wallace-return-schedule-nationwide-series
Click to expand...
Wow, it will be interesting to see who takes put more cars, Steven Wallace, or Jaques Villunueve. Also, I love the stat they posted -- 629 career starts, and 6 top 5s. They said it like it was a acomplishment.
 
Id drive a hauler for RWR. I got my class A and everything! I would be able to look past the Steven Wallace thing for a chance to drive a NASCAR hauler any day.
 
There are a few people I wouldn't drive a hauler for -- Jaques Villunueve, Juan Montoya, Danica Patrick, and yes, Steven Wallace.
 
Captain Coyfish said:
There are a few people I wouldn't drive a hauler for -- Jaques Villunueve, Juan Montoya, Danica Patrick, and yes, Steven Wallace.
Click to expand...

I'm not a truck driver , but I wouldn't burn my bridges like that . One of those teams calls me up ? You never know.;)
 
Just for the record...I was joking about not hauling wrecked race cars.:D But, the main reason I didn't send my resume in was because I like the gig I have now, and I don't want to relocate from Southern Ca if I don't have to. But, I definitely agree with you guys about not burning bridges, because you never know when you may to need to cross that bridge in the future.;)
 
I'm more than winning to see these guys simmer in Nationwide for an extra year if needed. Everybody was so quick to discover the "next Jeff Gordon", but for every "next Jeff Gordon" there has been 5 guys who were rushed to Cup and embarrassed themselves. Casey Atwood, Joey Logano, few others, I'm looking at you.
 
I started to notice Allgier last year and I'd like to see him get a chance. It should be good to see new drivers enter Cup. I worry that some drivers will come up too soon and ruin their chance. I remember the Casey Atwood deal.
 
Yeah Allgier has had a few years in NW now. Stenhouse had to wait a little bit and its looking like thats paying off. Most of the drivers who spend a good amount of time in NW make out pretty well in Cup. Im trying to think and Other than Austin Dillon I think Allgier is the only one with ample seat time that seems Cup worthy.
 
I'm a bit biased as Allgier is my favorite NW driver, but I really don't see why Montoya and Burton have good cup rides when Allgier doesn't.

And for the people saying Atwood was rushed to cup, he wasn't. He just had pitiful equitment.
 
steven wallace ? :blink::blink: ...thought we'd seen last a' that goofy **** !

bubba wallace maybe....on diversity push by sum sponsor. ...plus nascar.

dillon boys----grandpappy

brian scott---daddy $$ ...less he cuts it off.

menard buys ganassi......his son...an larson.....w/ mentor kurt bush ...in dodges ! ha!
 
Justin Allgier - Seems like he has been around forever. I honestly do not see him ever getting a competitive cup ride. He will likely stay in the Nationwide series until he can't find sponsorhsip and then he will accept a cup ride of a team like Burger King racing or whatever that team is.

Elliott Sadler - Had a couple chances in cup, has won a few cup races and qualified for a chase before so he could be brought into a multicar team (Non championship contending) at some point.

Brian Scott - He has driven for a championship worthy team the past few years and has turned in mediocre results. He doesn't deserve a cup ride but money talks.

Sam Hornish Jr - I think this is going to be a huge year for Hornish. If he can prove consistant through out the entire Nationwide season I could see him back in cup for Penske next season.

Austin Dillon - Doesn't matter if he is champion material or not he is going to cup next year because of his grandfather.

Regan Smith - He has always exceeded expectations in every ride and he is definitly cup worthy. I could see him driving for maybe a team like Chip Ganassi if Mcmurray or Montoya don't return next year.

Brian Vickers - He should be in the #55 full time next year. He has won cup races and qualified for the chase before, he has had a lot of bad luck though.

Parker Klingerman - Is a mid pack kind of guy from what I have seen. Could drive for Kyle Busch if he ever takes his team to cup?

Darrell Wallace - Has shown he has enough talent to have a successful cup career at some point down the road. I see him as a Clint Bowyer type of driver. Runs consistantly in the top 10 maybe wins a race or two and season and is always somewhere in the top 10 at the end of the year.

Kyle Larson - He will be a cup champion someday. But for now he needs to spend at least this season and next season in Nationwide before even considering cup

Alex Bowman - He has been very good at qualifying but in the race he gets lost in the middle of the pack. He is still young and I think he can be a winner but he is still about 2 years away from finding out if he can be a Ricky Stenhouse or a Justin Allgaier.

Ryan Blaney - Haven't watched much of the trucks series this year, but in Nationwide from the moment he stepped into a car he was already a top 10 driver. I can see him having a cup career simular to a Kevin Harvick. And that would be a pretty good caareer.

Ryan Truex - Is good but is still about a year or two away from knowing what kind of potential he could have. He will have a long career I am sure of that.

Jeffrey Earnhardt - Has not been super competitive but he is not driving for a top team in the Nationwide series. He did a decent job last week driving for JR and I hope he gets more oppertunity to showcase his skills in a better car.

Johanna Long - Is driving for a bottom dollar team and has been very competitive especially on short tracks. Another drive that I would love to see get a chance with a better team.

Trevor Bayne - Already a Daytona 500 winner and if he wanted to he could be in cup full time now (With a less competitive team than Jack Roush though. He will win a Nationwide race or two this year.

Travis Pastrana - Long learning curve and I don't see him sticking around long term. He just started driving last year and his transition looks simular to Danica's upon coming to Nascar. I personally don't seem him racing past 2015 if he is not in cup though.

TY Dillon - Has won some truck races and I believe he will be entered in a handfull of Nationwide races this year. He will be in cup driving for his Grandpa at some point in the not to distant future.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom