Failed expectations or tough competition

By Mike Harper

The Nextel Cup Series is about to enter their version of the playoffs and it got me thinking about what we were talking about at this time last season.

If you remember, the hot topic last season going into the championship Chase was Roush Racing’s ability to get all five of their Cup teams into the Chase. While it was an incredible achievement last season, this season I’m wondering what happened to Roush Racing as they struggle to get only two teams into the Chase.

In professional and collegiate sports there’s a goal or expectation put in place by the coach or team owner at the beginning of each season. In most cases these expectations are reviewed at the end of the season or throughout the season to measure their level of success. If expectations aren’t being met it could result in minor or sometimes drastic changes to help achieve their overall goals.

That said, in my opinion Roush Racing with the exception of the No. 17 team and maybe the No. 6 team must look at their season as one of disappointment.

Last season, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards finished the season in second and third in the championship standings. Sadly for these teams, neither will make the playoffs this season. Are they missing the playoffs because of failed expectations or because the competition is too tough?

Believe it or not, some will argue that the competition this season is greater than it was last season. In my eyes, that’s a lame excuse. Competition is always tough and when you’re racing against the best drivers in the world, you better be ready to bring your best race each and every week or you’ll get beat. This season, blame it on bad luck or tough competition, the bottom line is Biffle and Edwards got beat resulting in failure to meet their expectations set by last season’s measurements.

The good news in all of this is it’s a pretty sure thing that Biffle and Edwards are secure in their positions at Roush. In other words, I don’t see them in the unemployment line anytime soon. So I must ask what happened this season?

• Did Kurt Busch bring that much value to Roush Racing?
• Did they underestimate the competition this season?
• Maybe making the Chase last season was a fluke or they got lucky?
• Could it be that Biffle and Edwards are Taurus guys?
• Maybe it’s like the Ameriquest commercial where Edwards says "we want to give someone else a chance."

I do know that Jack Roush is among the best at getting to the bottom of his organization’s challenges. I think Biffle and Edwards will rebound sometime soon and at a minimum going into next season, their expectations from a fan’s point of view aren’t set as high as they were going into this season. Why? Because they didn’t make the Chase this season and making the Chase next season will be viewed as a success.

Personally I think Roush’s biggest challenge moving forward into the future comes in the form of a guy in a purple suit. Jamie McMurray has been given a unique opportunity and at this point he is failing to meet expectations. Well, at least my expectations.

Good luck with that purple pill Jack.