Showing posts with label Greg Biffle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greg Biffle. Show all posts

NASCAR’s 5 Most Underrated Drivers

Posted by Genna | Posted in , , , , , , | Posted on 2/24/2009

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Its a known fact that NASCAR commentators, fans, and media tend to focus on “certain” drivers that may or may not be good but they cause a lot of drama and talk. Now I’m pretty certain I don’t need to mention any names- we’re all pretty aware of those drivers I’m talking about.

 

You know the ones I mean too. The ones that are handsome, have famous last names, talk a lot of crap about a certain tire company, and cause a lot of talk when they take out other drivers *you know the ones with the famous last names*.

 

But what about those guys that finish well all the time, contend for championships, and don’t cause all the drama? What about guys that consistently finish in the top 10 and 5 and are all around drama free guys. But nobody wants to hear about those guys?

 

Well I’ve compiled a list here of the top 5 drivers that I think are the most underrated NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

 

5. Clint Bowyer

2007- 3rd in points
2008- 5th in points
46 career top 10’s
17 career top 5’s
2 career wins
15.8 average finish

In his short career in NASCAR, this driver from Emporia, Kansas has achieved a nice looking resume. On top of his cup stats, he currently stands as the defending Nationwide Series Champion. Look out for him in 2009, it could well his breakout year.

 

4. Jeff Burton

1993- ROTY
1997- 4th in points
1998- 5th in points
1999- 5th in points
2000- 3rd in points
2006- Victory at Dover in September was first victory since October 2001 at Phoenix. The Dover win vaulted Burton to the top of the Chase standings, a position he held for four weeks
212 career top 10’s
117 career top 5’s
21 career wins
15.9 average finish

Jeff’s come back year in 2006 was one for the books. He broke a nearly 5 year winless streak with a dominating win at Dover and finally found himself in the Chase for the Cup and back in contention for the championship. He’s never won one, but have no doubt that he will break the curse and go on to win at least one, maybe more, in his career.

 

3. Greg Biffle

2005- 2nd in points
2008- 3rd in points
79 career top 10’s
48 career top 5’s
14 career wins
17.1 average finish

Something that bugs me and undoubtedly many others is the way Greg is always referred to as a “dark horse”. Why is that? The media likes to pretend guys like Biffle are worse drivers than they actually are but this guy won the first two races of the Chase and went on to be a serious contender for the championship, finishing 3rd overall in the standings. Watch out for this guy- he will be a dark horse no more this 2009 season.

 

2. Mark Martin

Mark Martin
1989- 3rd in points
1990- 2nd in points
1993- 3rd in points
1994- 2nd in points
1995- 4th in points
1996- 5th in points
1997- 3rd in points
1998- 2nd in points
1999- 3rd in points
2002- 2nd in points
2004- 4th in points
2005- 4th in points
396 career top 10’s
243 career top 5’s
35 career wins
13.4 average finish

They call him “the Kid” but Mark Martin is far from it. He’s an old veteran to NASCAR but he’s lost none of his edge. In 2005, Martin ran his last full season and finished an impressive 4th place in points. Not bad for an old man who was pushing 50. Now he’s running full time in a Hendrick car with teammates like Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson. With that kind of power under the hood and teammates that have the impressive resumes those guys have, how can he not be in position to win some races, even that elusive championship?

 

1. Matt Kenseth

2000- ROTY
2003- Won championship
2006- 2nd in points
2007- 4th in points
164 career top 10’s
90 career top 5’s
18 career wins
14.9 average finish

You could say Matt came out number 1 because that’s the only finish he’s known this year so far but there is far more to it than that. The boy can drive. I’ll be the first to say I hated to see him win Daytona on a rain call but given those extra 49 laps or so, I believe he could have won on his actual merits instead of the way he did win. It was all luck of the draw, that one was. But Sunday’s race at California was no luck. That was pure, raw talent. Watch for more of it this coming season.

My Top 10 Predictions for 2009

Posted by Genna | Posted in , , , , , , | Posted on 2/02/2009

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Ten Predictions for 2009

These are my top ten predictions for 2009. If they don’t happen, I guess I’ll have to eat my words, but from watching these drivers and their teams, I think I’m on the right track for the most part. So in no particular order, my top 10 predictions for 2009.


Tony Stewart will win. I know it sounds farfetched and ridiculous after his performance in 2008 but I honestly believe he will overcome everything and win a race this season. Think about the Hendrick power he’s got under the hood and the millions he’s put into Stewart Haas Racing. He will win and he will do it in the first half of the season.

Mark Martin will be a Chase contender. I know a lot of you may be thinking “what? Martin? But he’s old and crusty!” and that may very well be but do you recall the 2007 Daytona 500? This man is still contending for race wins! The man can drive and again, he’s got that Hendrick power under the hood. Now that he’s *thankfully* out of DEI, I believe he’ll be well able to prove to the fans just how great a race he really is.

Joey Logano isn’t going to quite live up to all the hype. They call him the greatest thing since sliced bread, or just plain old Sliced Bread for short, but is Joey Logano at 18 years old really ready for the Cup series? He started three races in the 96 car last season and he didn’t run very well in any of them. I don’t think that one season in the Nationwide series is enough. He probably needs at least another season or two under his belt before making it to the big leagues. But what do I know? I’m just a fan.

Greg Biffle will also be a Chase contender. He might even win that elusive championship and make NASCAR history by becoming the first driver to win a championship in all three of NASCAR’s top series. In the 2008 season he killed ‘em with back to back wins at Dover and NHIS, proving that he was not one to be counted out yet. In the last ten races of the season known as the Chase, Biffle had plenty to smile about. He finished 3rd in the 3rd chase race at Kansas, but got taken out by his teammate, Edwards at Talladega. He went on to finish 7th at Charlotte, 12th at Martinsville, 10th in Atlanta, 5th at Texas, 11th at Phoenix, and had some bad luck in the season finale at Homestead-Miami where he finished 18th. But in those last 10 races, he had a very impressive resume with 4 top 5’s and 6 top 10’s total. He’s easily one of NASCAR’s most underrated drivers.

Jimmie Johnson won’t win his 4th championship in a row. News flash: Its never been done. It never will be done. Not in our lifetime. 3 Champs in a row is impressive but lets see you get 200 career wins, oh Jimmie dear.

The DEI-Ganassi merger will crash and burn. Two failing organizations with sub par drivers that have both lost the best they had to offer and they expect that by merging it will fix all their problems? Think again guys. But at least we can say they went down swinging, right? I’m not wishing harm on them, just calling it how I see it.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make his great comeback. The boy will win races, contend for the championship and keep his car in the top 5, at the very least. And as if the man wasn’t popular enough, he will grow even more in popularity. He’ll probably win NASCAR’s most popular driver, again. I predict he’ll have may one DNF, but no more than that. As for race wins, I’m thinking at least 2-3, probably more.

Jeff Gordon will win a race. And he’ll probably win more than one. Every driver has to have a season where they’re a little off but last year, Gordon was way off. He did not win one race last season and I think it probably motivated him even more to try that much harder this year to win. I believe he’s a top contender for the Chase again this year and he will be very determined and motivated.

We’ll have a very unexpected first time winner. Whether its someone like Aric Almirola with a couple of partial seasons under his belt or Reed Sorenson in his new number 43 car, someone is going to come out if this season with a surprising victory.

There will be a first time champ. Whether it be Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Dale Jr., or Mark Martin, there won’t be a repeat champion this year.

Remember these are simply my opinions. You don't have to agree with them and if you don't, I really don't care. If you do, then cool for you.

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