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August 02, 2008
Gordon, Stewart still winless
By DAVID GREEN
All but obscured in the outrage over tire problems in last weekend's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard was the fact that Kyle Busch didn't win, and Jimmie Johnson did. Further obscured was the fact that two of NASCAR's most prominent and prolific winners, and surely two of its most talented drivers, remain winless this season.
Busch's success is understandable. The younger Busch brother had already demonstrated that he might be a better driver than 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt. Anybody who is truly surprised by anything except the amazing frequency of Busch's wins in all three national touring series may be letting personality issues cloud his or her judgment.
But it amazes me that it is August, and neither Jeff Gordon nor Tony Stewart has won a Cup Series race this season.
No matter who we're talking about, there are no guarantees. Dale Earnhardt had seasons in which he did not win a race. NASCAR's winningest driver ever, Richard Petty, finished his career with eight-and-a-half seasons with nary a trip to victory lane.
But we're talking about contemporaries here, both suffering through the same dry spell. It's like Earnhardt and Petty, the two seven-time champions, both at the peak of their careers and both going without a victory through more than half a season.
It can be argued that both drivers have run well. Both are in the top 10 in driver standings, Gordon in sixth and Stewart in 10th.
Perhaps it's not such a big deal to everybody in this era of preoccupation with points standings. But I still feel that winning races is the essence of motor sport, and that championships ought to be a cumulative result that rewards winners appropriately.
And I am stunned that these two guys have been shut out for so long this season.
August 2, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
David,
NASCAR and all it's point gimmicks take away from where the focus of racing should be. The focus of racing, from a kindergarten foot race to F1 supercars, has always been about winning. NASCAR, however, would rather have us focus on who's in 35th or who's fighting for 12th. Wins don't really matter during the season. It only matters if you get a free pass into the show, or if you make the T12. NASCAR's playoff is a farce, has no business in racing, and has hurt the sport of racing. Nobody in 12th should be able to compete for the title, period. They were in 12th for a reason. They weren't good enough to be 11th.
On Stewart and Gordon, I'd say the more surprising of the two would be Gordon. Stewart has had a distracting season. No wins when teammates have won, leaving the team, and the ownership/team setup issues all must weigh on his mind. It's hard enough to win w/o distractions. Neigh impossible with them. Gordon, on the other hand, is coming off a super season. He has no distractions. His issues seem more like a total team brain fart. Last year all their decisions were golden; this season they're a bit tarnished.
But, hey, the season isn't over, and they will both make the playoff (ugh). But, without that playoff, I think they'd be trying a bit more aggressively/desperately and we'd be watching a bit more closely.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 2, 2008 9:04:22 AM
Well originally I thought Stewart would go winless this season...But i broke down and gave him a "Pity Pass" for a win at Indy...Still say he'll cough up a goose egg!
Gordon has too much going on in his life...baby, wifie...and with abother superstar in the stable I think Rick's running out of Championship to promise!
Posted by: Fan #5 | Aug 2, 2008 1:00:40 PM
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