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The Best in Cup today
Since everything I write turns into a discussion of who's driver I insulted, or what I said about someones driver, I thought I would give you my opinion on who the best driver in Cup is today. At least now everyone can give there opinion and make themselves heard. Race fans always want to show how much they know and give there opinion. So here's your chance. I've been talking to a lot of the older guy at the shop and taking a poll on who they think is the best ever. Most of them cant give me an answer because they say it depends on the time in which they raced. A couple of the names I got were:Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson, Richard Petty, and Tim Richmond. Those are just a few of the names mentioned. The one name I didn't here much about is the same name that I would say is the best driver out there in Cup right now, Jeff Gordon. Like him or hate him, he has all the numbers to back my claim up. Usually when fans hate a driver as much as the do Gordon its because he's kicking there drivers *#@ on the track. That is what Jeff Gordon has been doing for years now. People still forget that he is still young for the sport. I am not a big Gordon fan my self, but I do have a lot of respect for the way he manages to win. He competes at ever track he goes to and very rarely is he not a factor. He can win at any style track we race. So I'm sure everyone that reads this column has an opinion on who the best driver in Cup TODAY is. Let's here it.
May 10, 2005 in Race talk | Permalink
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Comments
Hate to say it, but I have to go with Gordon too, and for one simple reason: he wins on the short tracks, he wins on the cookie-cutters, he wins on the plate tracks, he wins on the road courses. No one comes close. I do wish that Tim Richmond had stayed around, though. There was one hell of a driver who might have reached great heights.
You mentioned elsewhere about the passionate support for drivers. I like that, but I don't like the flip side, where people really insult and slam drivers they don't like. I may have guys I root for, but I admire every single one of them. Even Jimmie Johnson!
Posted by: Doug | May 10, 2005 10:39:48 PM
Jeff Gordon. I am not a very big Jeff Gordon fan, but the stats DO NOT lie. no matter how much you hate him, he has 3 Daytona 500's, won multiple Coke 600s, multiple Southern 500s, multiple wins at Bristol, Richmond, and Martinsville, the road course king, 74 wins and 4 championships and right in the middle of this years. given the car, there is no better driver out there. numbers don't lie.
Posted by: Kris Kepley | May 10, 2005 11:04:45 PM
If you are looking for the best Nascar Driver then Gordon is your Guy,however if you are looking for the best driver with the most talant then you have to look no further than Tony Stewart.He has victorys in Cup,Trucks,and Busch...1991 USAC rookie of the year...1994 USAC Championship (midgets)...1995 USAC Triple Crown(A title they had to create for him because nobody had ever one 3 championships in the same year, in 3 different divisions).In 1996 IRL rookie of the year.In 1997 he won the IRL championship...1999 Winston Cup rookie of the year,with 3 victorys,more than any winston cup driver in history,also finishing 4th in points for the year.He did not have the usual sophomore slump winning 6 races( a Nascar sophomore record)...In 2002 Stewart wins another Championship,The Winston Cup.
Posted by: hostage94 | May 11, 2005 12:12:34 AM
Of current NASCAR drivers place Gordon and Mark Martin among the best.
Past "best" would be Tim Richmond, "The King," and David Pearson.
If the list were for all round drivers, I agree Stewart and would add Schrader because of their ability to win in anything, given the right equip, dirt, concrete, ashphalt, short, long, stock, sprint, midgets and outlaws. It doesn't matter they win in anything.
Posted by: Marc | May 11, 2005 1:56:56 AM
I agree with Tony Stewart. He can win at anything.
Posted by: Trent | May 11, 2005 6:32:58 AM
I would Say Tony Stewart also. The man can junp into anything and be competitive and he's won races and championships in everything he has competed in.
Posted by: Mike | May 11, 2005 7:29:20 AM
I think it is pretty funny that anyone can mention a list of the best drivers and not mention Dale Earnhardt Sr. is a joke, just because you don't like him doesn't mitigate his racing talent. I hate Jeff Gordon but I wouldn't leave him off a list of the best drivers.
Jeff Gordon is probably the best active driver, but he isn't the best drvier of all time. That would go to the King Richard Petty. Until Jeff comes close to matching any of Petty's records he can't even be considered close to being the best.
Posted by: Jon | May 11, 2005 7:52:03 AM
At the moment I would agree that its Jeff Gordon. Tony Stewart may have as much or more pure talent, but Gordon seems to be better at what might be called thought racing -- strategizing, working with his crew chief to turn a bad car into something respectable or even into a winner. What else can you say about a guy who can still win after being 2 laps down?
In the future, however, I think that the title will be claimed by either Ryan Newman or one of the Busch brothers. Talent plus brainpower is going to be the key.
It might have been Biffle, but unless he races competitively into his 50's he didn't get his chance soon enough to have a long enough career to pile up the stats.
Posted by: MBVoelker | May 11, 2005 8:20:22 AM
Jon,
The question was who is the best active cup driver,not the best of all time.Big E holds a place in history and the king is still the king.
Posted by: hostage94 | May 11, 2005 8:24:22 AM
Jon -
Trent did say the best driver TODAY. I am sure he meant no disrespect to Earnhardt.
Posted by: truracinfan | May 11, 2005 8:27:49 AM
That's right hostage94, and he will ALWAYS be the King!
Posted by: truracinfan | May 11, 2005 8:30:22 AM
GORDON is at the top... Don't really like him... but can't take anything away from him... that is a whole team effort... not just a good crew chief!
Posted by: M Benson | May 11, 2005 8:31:58 AM
Tim Richmond or Alan Kulwicki would have been the best of all time. Neither one was around long enough to put up the stats to match Earnhardt or Gordon, but they were the best.
Honestly now, Dale Sr. won by aggressive driving and crashing his competitors and Gordon won because he has had the best car in field every year. Jimmy Spencer could have won 4 championships in the 24 car and if he had spun as many drivers as Earnhardt, he could probably have won 7 or 8.
Richmond & Kulwicki won races by being good… damn good as a matter of fact! They didn’t have the best equipment or the best strategy, but they were always the class of the field when it came to TALANT! Being the best driver is more than winning the most races.
Being the best driver means finishing 10th when your car is the worst in the field or winning at Dover with no power steering. AND most importantly not being a cry baby on TV on those occasions when you didn't win!
Thank God no one has been ignorant enough to mention Dale Jr!
Posted by: uncle Buddy | May 11, 2005 9:17:55 AM
As far as CURRENT drivers, You can't place just one but I think there are several that are better than most.
Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle are both VERY gifted racers. Tony Stewart probably has more raw talent than anybody. Ryan Newman has the best no nonsense racer's attitude on the circuit (in my opinion anyway).
I don't care for either one of them but both Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson are fantastic racers.
THere are some others that can not be forgotten but these are the best drivers racing in Cup today in my opinion. (BUT you know what they say about opinions!!!)
Posted by: Newman Fan | May 11, 2005 9:51:32 AM
I have never rooted for Jeff Gordon, but even a blind and deaf man, when presented with the simple facts will recognize who the best of this era is.
It is Jeff Gordon.
I find it difficult to comapre different drivers from different eras, but Gordon has to rank up there with the Petty's, Peason's, Dee Dubya's, Allison's and Earnhardts in their heydays.
Posted by: Cliff Wahl | May 11, 2005 10:15:04 AM
I think the best driver today is Jeff Gordon for the reasons you mentioned Trent. He can win anywhere, is always a contender to win no matter the starting position. And unlike some of the other posts, I do think he has the talent as well as the car. It's also nice to see people who may not like Jeff, acknowledge his abilities. Tony Stewart is good at all forms of racing and I agree with an earlier post on the Busch brothers, even though I don't particularly care for the eldest one. Really good Topic Trent.
Posted by: Mandy24 | May 11, 2005 10:22:42 AM
Jeff Gordon....That is why I picked him as a driver...He's the best out there right now..Every weekend is exciting when it comes to watching him on the track...He always amazes me!
Posted by: 24 Fan | May 11, 2005 10:36:10 AM
The question is the best driver in CUP today! Dosen't matter what Stewart or anyone else has done on dirt or in another series. In CUP, and TODAY, it is impossible to argue that Jeff Gordon is not best there is, even though he makes me want to puke.
Posted by: Jeff | May 11, 2005 1:03:44 PM
Best in cup today...that is a tough one. Let's see...figuring out all the mega team advantages and going just on driver skills I'd have to do a Stewart/Gordon tie (I'm a Harvick fan) they have the ability to motor anything anywhere and I give a slight edge to Stewart. But on any given day there are at least 15 Best Nascar Drivers
Posted by: Keith | May 11, 2005 1:10:13 PM
Its interesting to here who people think. I personally think that Ryan is alot better than people think. Our season two years ago wasnt a fluke, but I cant tell you that, we have to prove it. Just like Ryan, I think there are 5 or 6 drivers, that in time, will stand out more than others. There are so many young guns that have not reached there total potential yet. It should get real interesting in about 5 years when all the young guns are in there 30's. The competition is getting better every year.
Posted by: Trent | May 11, 2005 1:23:07 PM
I must admit, as much as I hate to, but Gordon is a damn good driver. As for the BEST TODAY, I have to go with my man Stewart. Stewart has had some car problems and bad luck this year (wrong place, wrong time), and Gordon just seems to "have it" this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's all luck for Gordon, he is a good driver, but I think circumstances also come into play when looking at stats. You can't always help it when another driver slides up the track and ends your day. That's Racin'!
Posted by: Stewart Fan | May 11, 2005 1:26:24 PM
You have to give it to Gordon. Love him or hate him he is an incredible driver. The numbers don't lie. As far as people comparing him to old time drivers, you can't. Back in the day they raced every weekend and sometimes twice a weekend. So of course some of the other drivers will always have higher numbers. And as far as Earnhardt, Sr. goes, well at least Gordon doesn't have to wreck people to win. There are some great drivers out there right now, but hands down Gordon is the one.
Posted by: Julie | May 11, 2005 1:30:09 PM
Not just because I am a Gordon fan, but I have to agree that he is the best driver out there today. Like you said, the numbers don't lie. My family (we get together and watch the races) cannot stand Jeff Gordon, but even they admit that he's the best out there. That's why they don't like him, he's too much competition for their drivers.
GO 24!!!
Posted by: 4Gordon24 | May 11, 2005 1:40:35 PM
In my mind Jeff is the best week after week. He drives hard and prepares. Go to CUP race and listen on your scanner to drivers talk. Jeff and his crew are in and out so much it makes your head spin. As for Jr. I like him and enjoy hearing him talk. However, he is not a champion and will not be with DEI. There is nothing that he shows on the track that come close to Gordon. What he is not and never will be is Dale Sr. but, thank the Lord there is an Earnhardt or two to watch; it's good for the sport.
Posted by: Patrick King | May 11, 2005 2:16:09 PM
Undoubtedly, Gordon is the best “active” driver. The wins and number of championships don’t lie. Love him or hate him, you have to give credit where credit is due. Ten years from now, it could be completely different, but for now it is Jeff Gordon.
Stewart is probably the best all around driver active today. He is very versatile and competitive in most things with tires and a steering wheel.
Earnhardt SR was guilty of crashing more than his share of people, but he also had the ability to take a top 20 car and get a top 5 or top 10 out of it as well as excellent car control.
And then we have the “what might-have-beens”. This includes Richmond, Kulwicki, and Davey Allison. Who knows what they could have accomplished given the chance to finish out their careers??
Trent, I also happen to agree with you about in five years when all the “Young Guns” are all well into their 30’s. I don’t know what will happen, but it will be interesting to watch.
Oh, and Uncle Buddy, not all Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans are ignorant or walk around with blinders on and you would do well to remember that fact. I’d say that no other driver has had the expectations placed upon him that that young man has and has held up admirably. Having a famous name is both a blessing and a curse.
Posted by: Serena | May 11, 2005 2:28:03 PM
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