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January 26, 2009
Dark Horse Picks For 2009
By Mark Young
With Speed Weeks nearly upon us I thought I would write a couple of posts to get some feedback from the rest of you in Blog Land. Each year there are always drivers and teams that have a break out season proclaiming their mark upon the sport. Even if it is for a few races during the long season it is great to see the dark horse break up the monotony of watching the power house drivers win each and every week. So with that in mind, I am going to talk about a couple of guys I think will make a mark this season but more importantly I want to know who you guys are looking out for.......U WANT SOME?
My first of three drivers who will emerge from the middle of the pack as contenders to win races or run strong is rookie Scott Speed. This kid has oodles of talent and runs fast in every NASCAR piece of equipment he buckles into. Who care what he did in F-1, he has run great in trucks, ARCA, and Nationwide.....I look to see a lot of him and his Charlie Brown looking Red Bull hat this season.
The next driver is David Stremme. This second round Cup Series driver got a bad deal (in my opinion) when he was let go from driving for Chip Ganassi. But I guess he got the last laugh, the #40 team didn't make it through the season in 2008 while David drove thousands of miles in a COT for Penske as their test driver. His perseverance paid off and replaces Ryan Newman in the #12 Dodge.
Juan Pablo Montoya shouldn't really be considered a dark horse but in reality he should be. I have talk and written many times about how much talent JPM has but didn't have good equipment to race in. The merger between Ganassi and DEI will put Juan in better equipment and I think it might just be what he needs to get to victory lane on a non-road course event.
What do you guys out there think?
January 26, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
I agree with you on JPM and Speed, Stremme not so sure, but am pulling for the guy. I think JPM has been held back by Ganassi equipment and DEI does have far better machinery than Ganassi had. Speed has shown sick speed in just about everything he's been in. The guys got talent, we'll just have to see if Red Bull can keep up with the equipment. The owner has billions so I don't think cash is a problem. My dark horse picks? Yah, like you care, but here they are. Ragan for sure, in two seasons he's shown marked improvement and should be a winner this year. He's got the CC and the equipment to do it. The other is Mark Martin, seriously, I think this guy could possibly win a title this year. Look at how well he's run part time the past two years. Yes he's got about 40 wins but I think he's going to drive his ass of in the best equipment of his life this year. At the very least he's going to have a couple of wins and be in the Chase. Not bad for a 50 year old. Is he 50 yet? I think he is. Too lazy to check.
Posted by: canucken | Jan 26, 2009 10:04:09 PM
Hey Mark,
Yes, for sure..you know on S.Speed! He may be the new definition of "different". How long til' we see Shawn White on 4 wheels?
With the best pit crew, Stremme is a solid pick.
After Milk at Indy, it is "bitter" to see JPM in a stockcar. He is proof that pure driving talent is not enough, Here.
My darkponies would be AJDinger, and Sam Hornish. Yes, I'm smiling. Very Dark.
From the "recycle bin", I choose to restore Kurt Busch, and Bobby Labonte/Todd Parrot.
Posted by: Larry | Jan 26, 2009 10:07:23 PM
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