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March 22, 2005
You can't count them out yet
I'm reading so many articles lately that are saying that certain drivers are already not going to make the Chase based on the four races that have been run so far. This is ridiculous.
Articles like this one have quotes like this...
Since 1975 only 28 drivers have worked their way back into the top 10 by the 26-race mark after falling below 20th in the standings in the opening month of the season.
That stat has to be worrisome for NASCAR top-dogs who are currently not in the top-20, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. (26th), Michael Waltrip (27th), Kasey Kahne (28th), Matt Kenseth (31st) and Bobby Labonte (37th).
Yes, I agree, these drivers are struggling right now, but to completely count them out of having the possibility of making the Chase is ridiculous. Any one of these drivers, or even all of them, can completely turn their season around at Bristol, so to say they're out is a bit premature.
Take Bobby Labonte for example, he usually runs good at Atlanta, but because he got caught up in that lap one wreck, his race was essentially over. He could have moved up a lot of positions if he had finished that race. Just like any of the others could have.
Look at Jimmie Johnson last year. He had those few bad races that put him down to tenth in the standings during the Chase, he turned around and it came down to the last race to see if Jimmie or Busch would win the championship, so you can't count anyone out this early.
It seems the media has run out of current news to write on and wants to cause a stir with their dire predictions. It's too early in the season to say if any of these drivers will make the Chase, we just have to sit back and watch to see who makes it or not. It's just too early to sit and make blanket statements about who will and won't make it.
March 22, 2005 in NASCAR | Permalink
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Comments
There are a lot of good drivers out there
so it's ridiculous to predict who is going
to win the championship this early in the
season. Some teams may be struggling right
now, but, don't count them out yet. There
may be a lot of surprises to come.
Posted by: Ellen | Apr 6, 2005 2:37:08 PM
I think it is ridiculous to even suggest that any team out of the chase after four races.
Posted by: Jon | Mar 24, 2005 11:28:20 PM
Kathy, did you get that article from the Winston-Salem Journal? If so, I feel I should mention that it came from the same sports page that advised the Panthers to hang 'em up and just focus on the next year - about a month into the season. Jr, Kenseth, and the others aren't automatically out this early anymore than a football team that starts off slowly.
Some sports journalists have gotten just as bad as mainstream journalists. They just want to get you riled up enough to keep reading. Then, when events prove them wrong, they get to do a story on the team's "improvement." It's a pretty sweet deal, when you think about it: manufacture a story, then just keep reporting that there's a story, then report that the story's over.
Posted by: Sara | Mar 24, 2005 3:08:53 PM
This isn't anything new with the *top dogs* being down in the points...with all the major changes to the areo, tires, and now penalties your going to see more struggles from all the teams trying to get the very maximum out of there cars and that will some times cause problems. Jimmy Johnson isn't the only driver to be the bridsmaid instead of the bride so to speak, he's got two more 2nd place finishes in the points to catch the best of the best Mark Martin.
They will turn it around soon. :)
Posted by: Melli | Mar 23, 2005 12:05:11 AM
I agree with most of you, that the season is too tumultuous to predict how many will qualify for the chase. Even if it's a meltdown (3 qualifiers or somesuch), NASCAR will adjust the rules. Not everything they do is right, and they'll work to correct any problems if necessary.
What a bunch of whiners drivers have become! I can't remember the last time a driver who was collected in a crash said, "That's just racing." They're taking every fender bender personally, as if they've never caused a crash!
Enough!
Posted by: Brian Blazevic | Mar 22, 2005 11:40:30 PM
The main thing I got from that article, is what a Cry Baby Greg Biffle, sounded like, he says he had the best car? He could have beat JJ, but not Carl? Then complains Carl came from nowhere and beat him out of the pits, and he used up his tires trying to get back to the front. Hell, all anyone has to do, is look at the replay, of Carl's rear tire, used up, doesn't do it justice, there wasn't anything left, Carl won thet race on pure skill and guts. Biffle should be proude of his teammate, not be complaining about him.
And just in case anyone cares, I'm a Jimmy Johnson fan, and Carl deserved that win...
Posted by: Don | Mar 22, 2005 6:52:53 PM
"Yes, I agree, these drivers are struggling right now, but to completely count them out of having the possibility of making the Chase is ridiculous."
Far be it from me to defend media, sports or the political type, but where in the passage you quote did the writer count anyone out?
Note the qualifier, "may already be out", in this portion:
"For a number of top drivers, this year's championship may already be out of reach"
Then the writer goes on to give the historical background behind his statement.
I think you're shooting a messenger that had no target on his back.
Posted by: Marc | Mar 22, 2005 6:06:11 PM
I don't think you can count anyone out in this topsy-turvy season. We will see a lot of different winners this year and I think Mark Martin, Rusty, Bobby LaBonte and Ricky Rudd might each get a win. Matt Kenseth's bad luck will go away and he'll get a couple of wins and Jr. and Rocket Ryan will get their share. Even Robby Gordon might steal one on a road course.
Posted by: Jimmy60 | Mar 22, 2005 4:36:06 PM
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