Your opinion- The Five Most Clutch Drivers in Cup

jaqua19

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However you may define "clutch", is it
-Execution in crunch time?
-ability to steal wins?
-Maximum finish in poor circumstance?
-Execution in general?

Formatted as
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Who are your five most clutch drivers in cup? In order, or not in order.

Make it fun, and do all-time if you want
 
1. Harvick
2. Johnson
3. Newman
4. Hamlin
5.keselowski
 
1. Jimmie Johnson (last year)
2. Brad Keselowski (Excellent fuel saver, 2012 championship battle with Johnson)
3. Kyle Busch
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Kurt Busch (2004 championship comeback was insane)
 
I would go

1. Jimmie Johnson (the amount of races he steals with inferior cars)
2. Brad Keselowski (Always executes when in position. Indy was a SHOCK)
3. Denny Hamlin (shook in 2010, but he can execute in crunch time)
4. Kevin Harvick (usually closes, but Johnson stole 4 wins from him the last 3 years)
5. Kyle Busch/Matt Kenseth (both sometimes can't execute. But DO close out races expectedly)

If Edwards hadn't stepped away, I'd put him from 3-5
 
I didnt list Kyle because how often does he or his team drop the ball

Kyle's thing is speed, he is fast. Execution is his biggest downfall, I think, and equipment management (although he's improved on that A LOT)
 
1.) Brad - His defensive driving is other worldly
2.) Jimmie - Just because of his ability to steal wins, happens every year it seems
3.) Kyle - Barf
4.) Kenseth
5.) Harv/Jolo - Splitting hairs
 
1. Jimmie Jonhson- 7 championships is pretty clutch.
2. Kyle Busch- One of the best on re starts and in today's NASCAR are clutch moments
3. Brad Keselowski- Plays alot of strategy that results in him having to step up at clutch moments.
4. Martin Truex Jr.- Man has dominated Stage raceing and again in today's NASCAR stage wins are clutch moments.
5. Kevin Harvick- He's not called to The Closer for nothing so he has to be on the list.
 
Kyle's thing is speed, he is fast. Execution is his biggest downfall, I think, and equipment management (although he's improved on that A LOT)
If you have spent much time listening to him on the radio, he makes a bad situation worse. He uses so many F bombs and G.D's that he doesn't get put on any of the radioactive's, the other words are so few you can't understand him.
 
this is pretty recent and hilarious. Kyle Dam Busch at his best. Language, even preacher Joe has something to say about. I think this one reason he chokes so bad when something happens

 
I didnt list Kyle because how often does he or his team drop the ball

To be fair I think 90% of the time it's Steven's fault. How many times has he brought Kyle down pit road in P1 and only changed 2 tires while everyone else took 4 behind him? It's a given at least 1 race a year, and it's always the same excuse "uhhh well I thought others would be more aggressive and we needed track position, sorry kyle"... this from P1 and pit stall 1 where you can literally look to your right and see everyone changing 4 behind you.
 
If anyone wonders why I threw Newman in its because he capitalizes on strategy, the tire call earlier this year, all the fuel mileage races early in his career.
 
I don't think Harvick is that clutch anymore, look at Atlanta, but he's not a choke artist like Truex was. I still have doubts about whether Larson can get it done when the chips are down.
 
How do you define "Clutch" in 5 words?

1. Amazing.
2. Talented.
3. Beautiful.
4. Patient..
5. Humble.

Kindly keep YOUR opinions to yourself.
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this is pretty recent and hilarious. Kyle Dam Busch at his best. Language, even preacher Joe has something to say about. I think this one reason he chokes so bad when something happens


:D
 
1.) Jimmie Johnson (obvious reasons)
2.) Brad Keselowski (master at saving fuel, has a way of being there at the end)
3.) Kyle Busch (the best hands down at restarts)
4.) Kevin Harvick (numerous photofinish or late race pass victories)
5.) Kasey Kahne (has a way of pulling out a big win whenever he desperately needs one)
 
1.Johnson
2.Harvick
3.Keselowski
4.Kenseth
5.Kurt Busch
What makes these guys different to me is many times they didn't have the fastest car and still came out of nowhere to win.It is sad to see both Kurt and Kenseth go through sponsorship issues this year.
 
I don't think Harvick is that clutch anymore, look at Atlanta, but he's not a choke artist like Truex was. I still have doubts about whether Larson can get it done when the chips are down.

I wouldn't say Truex is a choke artist. He has unbelievably bad luck. For some reason, whenever he's leading, a caution comes out late just about every time.
 
I suspect part of the secret to how well Brad saves fuel is that the team may well have fuel saving as part of their race strategy from the time they roll off the truck, unlike those teams that don't start saving until after the last pit stop, and then forget to tell the driver about it until halfway through the tank.
 
I would say Johnson, harvick, and keselowski. Kyle busch is right there and everyone else is too close to call.
 
I don't think Harvick is that clutch anymore, look at Atlanta, but he's not a choke artist like Truex was. I still have doubts about whether Larson can get it done when the chips are down.

I agree. I think after 2013 Johnson has developed a sort of psychological edge when it comes to racing for a win. He's way less dominant but he still wins more than anyone. 8 wins between 2016-2017 so far.

2015 in the fall Texas race when Brad lead over 300 laps by like 5 seconds was the most clutch performance I have ever seen. He just got beat and in post race, Brad was literally shaking.

He isn't the intimidator but there is absolutely a panic or a bit of doubt when someone has to race JJ, and I think that is what makes him clutch

I agree about Larson.

I think Hamlin and Brad K are both more clutch than Harvick, if I had to say so
 
Good thread I'll answer 1.) Jimmie ( I could put him 5 times really) 2.) Harvick 3.) Keselowski 4.) Logano 5.) Kenseth I didn't put Larson because like someone posted earlier we haven't seen what he can do over a full season in a championship and I think JJ is in his head already from Kyle's comments during one of the recent radioactive's. Kyle Busch is capable of melting down, Denny.....well Phoenix 2010 ( might be a year off or so), Truex don't see it. Pretty cool debate
 
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