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From foe to friend, for Junior, in the number 12 car. I doubt he will give zero bars to the driver of the 12 car again.
Jared Turner: Grading the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers
By Jared Turner - SceneDaily Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Tony Stewart and his Stewart-Haas Racing team have easily topped the NASCAR Sprint Cup field this season.
LaDon George
NASCAR Scene
COMMENTARY
With the NASCAR Sprint Cup season having now reached its official halfway point, it seems like a good time to assess the drivers who have been the biggest success stories and disappointments of 2009.
So here are the midseason report cards for 20 drivers who were expected to have an impact on the 36-race campaign.
A+
Tony Stewart: Stewart has this category all to himself. The two-time Cup champion has done more than exceed expectations with his Stewart-Haas Racing team. He has set this year’s standard for how a championship team should perform. With two points wins and a 180-point cushion over second place in the standings, Stewart could easily have run away with the title under the old point system.
A
Jimmie Johnson: If Johnson doesn’t win a record-breaking fourth straight championship this season, it probably won’t be because his Chad Knaus team has lost any speed from last season. In fact, Johnson has been stronger in the first half of 2009 than the first half of 2008. Sitting third in points with two wins under his belt, the Hendrick Motorsports driver will probably be the prognosticators’ favorite pick to hoist the champion’s trophy once the Chase For The Sprint Cup field is set.
Jeff Gordon: Gordon gets this grade for being second in the standings and leading the points for several straight weeks earlier in the season. The four-time champ hasn’t been as strong of late, however, as the first seven races when he claimed his lone triumph and finished lower than sixth only once. Even though Gordon receives the same grade as his Hendrick teammate, his season hasn’t been quite on par with Johnson’s up to this point.
A-
Kyle Busch: Despite being eighth in the standings, Busch has still been one of the strongest drivers of 2009, as evidenced by his three wins. Busch’s inconsistency keeps him from getting an even higher grade.
B+
Kurt Busch: The 2004 Cup champion has easily been the most improved driver of 2009 after never even making a serious bid for the Chase last season. Sitting fourth in points, Busch is a virtual lock for the Chase, but he’ll need to improve his short-track performance once the 10-race playoff commences.
B
Mark Martin: It has seemingly been feast or famine for the 50-year-old in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports. When Martin hasn’t encountered major problems, he has usually won or run well. But his three victories have been somewhat negated by several poor outcomes, which currently have him the first man outside the Chase group looking in.
Carl Edwards: Yes, Edwards. Disappointment or not, the Roush Fenway Racing driver is quietly piecing together a solid season as he is fifth in the standings with nine top 10s. Of course, notably missing from Edwards’ 2009 resume is a trip to victory lane – a place he visited a series-leading nine times in 2008.
Matt Kenseth: The 2003 champ opened the season with back-to-back wins but hasn’t done a whole lot since. His outstanding start and Chase-eligible points position are still good enough to earn Kenseth this grade.
B-
Denny Hamlin: Hamlin, as has happened so many times in his short career, has seen a couple of likely wins go by the wayside in the closing laps. With a little luck on his side, Hamlin would be worthy of at least the next highest grade.
Ryan Newman: If Kurt Busch is the most improved driver from last season, Newman is a close second. Like his former Penske Racing teammate, Newman missed the Chase last year but appears poised to make it this time. Take a rough first month to the season out of the equation and Newman and his Stewart-Haas team deserve higher marks.
Kasey Kahne: Kahne has, in typical fashion, been plagued by inconsistency this season, but his streaky performances could make him a championship dark horse if he makes the Chase. His lone win – which came on the road course at Infineon Raceway – seemingly came out of the blue.
Juan Pablo Montoya: One of the pleasant surprises of 2009, Montoya has been making a living off top 10s of late and appears well on his way to a Chase berth. Still, he hasn’t shown enough muscle to be considered a legitimate championship contender.
C+
Greg Biffle: Biffle has yet to recapture the magic he found in last season’s Chase but once again is in position to make the field for the final 10-race battle to determine the champion. He won’t be a factor in the title race, however, without a little more speed at a lot of tracks.
David Reutimann: Yes, Reutimann wouldn’t have won the Coca-Cola 600 without a little help from Mother Nature, but that doesn’t make his improvements over last year any less significant. Even so, he’s still probably at least a year away from being a potential factor in the championship race.
C
Brian Vickers: The good news is Vickers has a series-leading four poles to go along with a solid seven top-10s. The bad news is three crash-related DNFs have Vickers 17th in points and in real danger of missing the Chase.
D
Jeff Burton: A recent stretch of poor outings has Burton in jeopardy of missing the Chase for the first time in four seasons.
Joey Logano: Yes, the Joe Gibbs Racing youngster won on pit strategy at New Hampshire. That’s been about the only cause for celebration in an otherwise rough rookie campaign.
Clint Bowyer: Bowyer, who has made the Chase the last two seasons, hasn’t been as strong with RCR’s new fourth team. Still an OK year, all things considered.
F
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Despite being with arguably NASCAR’s best organization, Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt Jr. has been downright horrendous this year. It’s time to go ahead and start building for 2010.
Casey Mears: Mears’ offseason move to RCR hasn’t produced the results he wanted or expected. At this rate, he’ll be looking for another ride sooner rather than later.
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
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Comments
19 responses to "Jared Turner: Grading the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers". Post a Comment.
kylestewart said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 3:03 PMhave to totally disagree with giving logano a "D". 20th in points, 1 win, and 4 top 10's for a rookie driver who hasn't seen/driven most of these tracks. the kid keeps improving week-in/week-out.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrmdgolfr said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 3:35 PMAt least he got Junior right. ABC!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 3:57 PMswap biff and jpm
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» Confirm Abuse Reportandee anderson said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 4:54 PMI agree with Post#3.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportboudruxbone said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 4:59 PMOf course Smoke's right. The Best Race Car Driver Ever gets an A+. HE's driving that A+ too. Grubby and the boys are earning thiers also.But I think forsure Ryan Newman,Mark Martin and Kurt Bucsh could be bumped up to A's. and I'm not sure how Joey Lagono is doing for the rookie of the year, but if he's leading it, he should be bumped up to a solid B+ If not,C+ or C.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrmdunn3 said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 5:13 PMI'm pulling for Kasey. Joey is doing good as a rookie, better than most veterans.....think about that.
Report as AbuseLove the Biff, hope things turn around for him soon.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopthekeg said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 5:18 PMI like the two duds that got Fs
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» Confirm Abuse Reportr-m4071 said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 5:26 PMI'm with Kylestewart. Logano has been very consistent in my estimation and I suspect he has been following instructions and guidance from Joe Gibbs Racing. This is his 'get acquainted' season and they want him to play nice and get familiar with Sprint Cup racing.
Report as AbuseIf he repeats his performance next year than give him a
D or even an F. But not in his rookie year.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmanzytrophygirl said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 5:29 PMAgree with #3...swap 'em...it is going to get better for the Biff!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportyankeegranny said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 6:11 PMHow about Kevin Harvick,Jamie McMurrey, Martin Truex and David Regan right down there with JR? I sure thought all of them would have been contenders this year.None of them are doing any better than JR, Guess all of them will spend the rest of the year getting ready for 2010. Looks like it is working for Kurt Bush.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPearl Roll said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 6:43 PMJr. an F - haha to funny. Someone needs to teach him to be a NASCAR driver not a NASCARE driver.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportkarenpetersen said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 8:31 PMAll those drivers are down there with Jr. You cant get and lower than a F.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPhoenix987 said:
Jul 8, 2009 at 9:05 PMThis list is very incomplete, and as many will agree, pretty inaccurate. Some are correct, but some really aren't.
Report as AbuseIf you're going to put Reutimann as a C when he's 14th in points, and has a win (let's remind ourselves that a rain win is still a win, the check still cashes the same and the money gets to the team the same) and put Joey as a D when he's 20th in points after an abysmal start, with a win and more Top 10s than a good amount of drivers, you have to be crazy. I'd put Reutimann as a B, because he's definitely improved over last year, and Logano as a B- or C because he's doing pretty dang well for a rookie, especially compared to last year's rookie class.
Plus, a ton of drivers are left out. I understand that likely this article was slapped together in about 5 minutes, but if you're going to try to at least write something decent, include all the big names. You're neglecting a good number of drivers- some mentioned already that are having downright terrible seasons when they should be at least running for a spot in the Chase.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmwls1156 said:
Jul 9, 2009 at 12:52 AMA few things:
Report as Abuse1. Mark Martin not at least an "A"? Ridiculous. Makes the whole list invalid.
2. Logano a "D"? Again ridiculous. The fact that he finished 9th in his first ever race at Darlington is enough to at least get him a "C".
3. A "D" for Clint Bowyer? Hey, it's not his fault that Richard Childress screwed the pooch by making him drive the 4th car and giving an undeserving Casey Mears the 07. The 07 would again be in the Chase if Bowyer was behind the wheel.
4. Speaking of RCR disappointments, Kevin Harvick should be on the "D" list with the year he's having.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Jul 9, 2009 at 8:57 AMjared turners grade INCOMPLETE, go back to school
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSS396Chevelle said:
Jul 9, 2009 at 9:52 AMThat list had to take 5 minutes to put together. How is Logano a D driver? Give the kid a C for his effort.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgrandmasharon0 said:
Jul 9, 2009 at 1:48 PMLet's be fair, Jared Turner has a right to his opinion the same as each of us reading his article. We do not have to agree with his grading or reasons the same way we do not have to agree with each others.
Report as AbuseAll-in-all I think he did a pretty good job with his assignments, for the mid-term. :-)
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» Confirm Abuse Report4-DA-88 said:
Jul 10, 2009 at 6:38 AMWell, I look at it this way; Junior is on his way to bringing his grade up.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsharpshooter51 said:
Jul 13, 2009 at 4:30 PMreshuffle the cards and try again Jared
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