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Johali Lives
First name to pop into my head was Derrick Cope so ill go with him.
Was Robby a dirty driver? Absolutely. Was Robby a talented driver? Absolutely. Is Robby the worst driver to have won a Cup race? Absolutely not. He would have been a perennial top-10 championship standings driver with the right team in my opinion.
Was Robby a dirty driver? Absolutely. Was Robby a talented driver? Absolutely. Is Robby the worst driver to have won a Cup race? Absolutely not. He would have been a perennial top-10 championship standings driver with the right team in my opinion.
That's kind of my thinking.Cope has done absolutely nothing in the last 20 years, but did win a Daytona 500 back when superspeedway wins weren't quite as fluky, and won later in the same year at Dover. I would say that the 2nd win proved he wasn't too awful of a driver. It's not very easy to luck into two Cup wins.
That's kind of my thinking.
Greg Saks is a good pick. Most people don't know how cheated up that car was when he won the Firecracker 400.
Then at the next plate race (Pepsi 400) there was something sketchy with his car. He won the poll then proceeded to take out half the field (including a really strong Petty car) as the field crosssed the S/F line to conclude lap one.
Regan Smith
Not this, he was with a falling apart DEI and a building Furniture Row. He was very good with Jr in Xfinity. Plus he should have 2 cup wins.^^^^THIS
He finished in the Top 10 in only about 6% of his starts. (211 Cup starts / 13 Top 10's / 1 Win)
Lake Speed and Phil Parsons both won a single race in the 80's. I'd still go with Menard though.
For at least 15 laps he was one of the top five drivers I've ever seen. I rate a driver with a single win at Darlington ahead of any with a single win on a plate track (or almost anywhere else).Not this, he was with a falling apart DEI and a building Furniture Row. He was very good with Jr in Xfinity. Plus he should have 2 cup wins.
For at least 15 laps he was one of the top five drivers I've ever seen. I rate a driver with a single win at Darlington ahead of any with a single win on a plate track (or almost anywhere else).
Not this, he was with a falling apart DEI and a building Furniture Row.
The real story with the Cope wins wasn't about Cope..... the underlying story was Buddy Parrott and the Bob Whitcomb team....... Purolator was the sponsor and it was considered a third rate team..... Buddy Parrott was considered a washer up old crew chief that was over the hill and was unemployable by the top teams..... I was at that '90 Daytona race..... saw Earnhardt cut that tire in turn 3 and was never so happy to see Cope win the race...... Not as much happy for Cope as for Buddy...... That win..... and to back it up in Dover put Buddy back up in the list... He had a few more good years working for Roush...... Cope might not be the best driver........ but.... those 15 minutes of fame sure didn't hurt.....Derrike Cope. Back in the day I knew a pit crew guy for Ryan Newman and I asked him this same question. He said that pretty much everyone in the garage agrees that Cope is a total hack. He's apparently hit a few people with his car in the garage area over the years, so that alone should tell you something about his talent level.
Martin lost in that Ginn car.And, to be fair, the "DEI" car he was in wasn't bad when he was in it, but he was a rookie. Mark Martin won the Daytona 500 in it and was leading the points before Smith's first start.
Martin lost in that Ginn car.
I think those two things were a year apart. Martin's Daytona 500 "win" and early points lead was in 2007, Smith's rookie year was 2008. Martin split time in the 01 with Aric Almirola in 2007 IIRC. Then in '08, Regan took over the 01 and Mark Martin replaced Dale Jr in the 8 car.And, to be fair, the "DEI" car he was in wasn't bad when he was in it, but he was a rookie. Mark Martin won the Daytona 500 in it and was leading the points before Smith's first start.
I think those two things were a year apart. Martin's Daytona 500 "win" was in 2007, Smith's rookie year was 2008. Martin split time in the 01 with Aric Almirola in 2007 IIRC. Then in '08, Regan took over the 01 and Mark Martin replaced Dale Jr in the 8 car.
I think those two things were a year apart. Martin's Daytona 500 "win" and early points lead was in 2007, Smith's rookie year was 2008. Martin split time in the 01 with Aric Almirola in 2007 IIRC. Then in '08, Regan took over the 01 and Mark Martin replaced Dale Jr in the 8 car.
Mark Martin won the 2007 Daytona 500. And the 1990 Winston Cup Championship.
I know it's insensitive to say it, but I'm surprised Aric Almirola hasn't been brought up.
Again, I wouldn't say he's "the worst", he's much better than his stats. But his statistics aren't very good... he has one win, in a rain shortened race at Daytona and only has 29 top-10 finishes in 10 years of racing in Cup. His XFINITY career isn't much better. His only non-plate win was earned by Denny Hamlin. And one of his two plate wins came as a result of NASCAR throwing the caution on the last lap a couple hundred feet from the checkered flag.
I am still counting up all the races that Mark won in the 01 and 8 car(s).
Don't disagree Menard and Almirola have pretty comparable stats, with Almirola managing to run better in lesser equipment in Cup now, IMO.
I know of one.
Fake news.
RCR's equipment isn't elite either. Kevin Harvick proved that when he went to SHR and won a championship right out of the box.
Remember that one. I am not above talking NASCAR quasi-fixing races. I think when the sport needs it, they will give certain teams a call, like Jr. in the 2001 Pepsi 400. With the media hype the King was getting that week, I often wonder if that was supposed to be 201. Sacks would get my vote or maybe Lake Speed.Sacks had some weirdly memorable races on restrictor plate tracks. He nearly won the 1990 Winston 500 in an great duel with DE Sr. I think his Slim Fast car was better but Earnhardt simply wouldn't let him by. I vividly remember watching the end of that race. Then at the next plate race (Pepsi 400) there was something sketchy with his car. He won the poll then proceeded to take out half the field (including a really strong Petty car) as the field crosssed the S/F line to conclude lap one.
I met him a few weekends ago. Sat down at the bar at a restaurant and just struck up a conversation. I didn't know it was him for awhile. Super nice guy.Greg Sacks
That's pretty cool......... I once had a flight across the country and was seated next to Connie Kalitta.......I met him a few weekends ago. Sat down at the bar at a restaurant and just struck up a conversation. I didn't know it was him for awhile. Super nice guy.
My pick is Michael
Drag Racings "The Bounty Hunter".Who?
Ok, we're going to have a problem.Regan Smith
Connie was from the olden years...... Scott is more recent..........Who?
Yeah...... it's a shame....... I liked him.....Scott was recent.
He's no longer among us.
A lot of good racers left us way too early.......Damned close to nine years now.