Backseat Blonde - Gordon, Earnhardt Jr. to Fuel the New NASCAR

November 15, 2004 (Updated November 16)
Gordon, Earnhardt Jr. to Fuel the New NASCAR
By Allison Wagda

A season laden with controversy and sadness and
touched by inspiration is coming to a close, and a vision
of the new era of NASCAR is becoming increasingly
clear.

Despite the bevy of changes instituted and instigated by
NASCAR’s still-new CEO Brian France, intended to alter
anything and everything his father and grandfather
created (insert your own conclusions), the real story behind NASCAR’s future lies
within the garage. Specifically, the drivers.

Fans will see an unprecedented changing of the guard in the next few years.
Veterans Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin will make their swan song in 2005, and
Terry Labonte will join Bill Elliott on the part-timers tour. Out of all the most
recognized veterans, only Dale Jarrett has indicated he plans to run full-time in 2006.
Sterling Marlin’s multi-year plans appear to be up in the air, as co-owners Chip
Ganassi and Felix Sabates have 26-year-old David Stremme waiting in the wings for
a Cup ride. Ricky Rudd’s plans are also unknown.

Take a look at the 1994 final season standings and you’ll be surprised just how
many of the names are still prominent on the race scene today. Heck, Morgan
Shepard finished in 6th place that season.

In another decade, few of today’s current drivers, from rookies to the leading stars,
are likely to remain on the roster. It’s a sobering realization on just how much the
basic fabric of the sport is changing before our very eyes.

Heir Brian’s imaginative manipulations are partially to blame for all of this. However,
it’s no secret drivers today are subjected to a much crazier schedule than a decade
ago. In 1994, Wallace et. al. only ran 31 points races compared to today’s 36. That,
for my more mathematically-challenged friends, is a net loss of five weeks off to the
drivers. May not seem like much to you and me, but to someone who travels almost
every week for work it must seem like the vacation of a lifetime.

Plus, NASCAR has gained widespread recognition on the national stage, which has
added all sorts of sponsor and media responsibilities to drivers.

In short, things ain’t what they used to be.

Moving forward, some interesting stories are emerging…
Fortunately for NASCAR and us fans, there are plenty of drivers in the pipeline with
intriguing stories to keep us all entertained in the coming years. Even if the
legitimacy of the sport is destroyed by the corporate suit and championships are
routinely won by the undeserved, these intrepid drivers will be the thread that holds it
all together.

Momentarily setting aside those having already attained veteran status, there are
seven distinct groups of drivers who will make up the future NASCAR circuit. All will
have a place in the drama yet to unfold.

The Ringleaders: Once most of the old-timers (meant with the utmost respect) have
taken their last lap, several drivers are poised to fill the role as leaders both on and
off the track. Rookies look up to them, and fans idolize them.

At the head of this pack is Jeff Gordon. Rarely has a sport had a dominant figure
polarize fans as has Gordon. He’s slick, media-savvy and, gasp, from California. But
with four championship titles and the possibility of a fifth on the immediate horizon,
he’s earned the respect of everyone in the garage and on the track. Even the boos
from the grandstands these days seem more affectionate than anything else. Love
him, hate him, Gordon will be an icon no matter what.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s winsome personality and intense driving may have gained him
a huge fan base, but he is quickly earning a place among the highest echelon of
NASCAR drivers thanks to his talent. Week after week he is a contender, and his first
title will likely come sooner rather than later. Even without it, his influence cannot be
denied.

This may be a point of contention with some fans, but I’m going to go out on a limb
and add Tony Stewart to this group. Smoke has a few rough spots on his resume,
but he may well be the most talented driver in NASCAR today. How he evolves as a
leader over the next few years will depend solely upon him. He will either buck all the
new rules being wrought on the sport and leave in disgust for greener pastures, or
he will learn to how to use his popularity and talent to influence the sport and we will
all be better off for it.

Matt Kenseth: This season a chink in his armor has come to light, or maybe a circuit
has gone awry, but Matt Kenseth will stay at or near the top for years to come. His
quiet and classy demeanor is a welcomed presence to fans.

The Prime Players: These drivers are going to be nipping at the heels of the
Ringleaders, and several could attain that status in the next few years. Most are
coming into their prime as we speak, or have been around a few years and had a
rough season, but nonetheless still have high expectations.

Although Kurt Busch is currently in the points lead, he still hasn’t proven himself
capable of assuming the mantle of a Ringleader. For one, many of those points
currently in his possession were essentially a gift at the beginning of the Chase. His
success, while impressive for sure, has been based more on consistency than
wins. To be a leader, you must lead. Not be the number two, or number 3 man…no
matter what NASCAR says.

Jimmie Johnson is well on his way to Ringleader status. He’s mature, incredibly
capable and may just win his first championship this season next week at
Homestead.

Others in this category are Kevin Harvick, whose lackluster showing this season
was likely an aberration; Jamie McMurray, whose emerging potential should
concern the rest of the field in 2005; Kasey Kahne, the young rookie phenom who
showed remarkable determination and managed to almost make us forget that Bill
Elliott wasn’t behind the wheel; Ryan Newman, whose bad luck this season didn’t
make us forget what a threat he can be; Casey Mears, a driver many wrote off after a
dismal rookie year in 2003 who bounced back to give us a taste of what’s yet to
come; and Bobby Labonte, who in the first iteration of this story I accidentally put in
the category below, my mistake for forgetting his 2000 championship. Will he do it
again? I don't know. Could he? Sure.

The Determined Drifters: This won’t be popular, but it’s true. There seems to be an
abundance of drivers in NASCAR today who unfortunately fall into this category. They
are all talented, all have developed a fan base throughout their years in NASCAR,
and any could win a race in a given week.

But for whatever reason their performance is lukewarm. It could be the equipment, it
could be the crew, it could be the driver. Nonetheless, none have ever strung
together enough success to propel them to the top, and at this point seem destined
to remain in the middle of the pack. A few may be able to turn things around and
become a Prime Player.

Jeremy Mayfield had what is probably his biggest shot at ever landing a title this
season when he made the Chase. But his team proved inept at capitalizing on the
position. If not for the Chase, Mayfield would now be in 13th. He and Elliott Sadler
are the most likely of this group to become Prime Players in the next few years.

Jeff Burton, Michael Waltrip, Greg Biffle, Ward Burton, John Andretti, Jeff Green,
Dave Blaney, Jimmy Spencer…any one of these men are capable of winning. But
with the exception of Biffle, most have had enough years in Cup racing - several over
a decade - to prove that they are championship caliber drivers, and none have.

Robby Gordon also falls in this category now, but that could change. He has the
passion and talent to be a contender, but his frustrated energy often gets misplaced
(typically in the back of another car). Being a car owner and having the financial
responsibility for his own equipment may make Robby one of the more interesting
stories of 2005.

The Nascent Newbies: With NASCAR sensing a shift in demographics and
sponsors seeking to attract the coveted 18-30 market, young, fresh-faced drivers are
the hot new commodity in NASCAR. There are also a few more experienced drivers
that have managed to make enough noise to be noticed by Cup teams. While Kasey
Kahne was clearly the standout among 2004 rookies, several showed potential. And
the 2005 newbies also look interesting.

Brian Vickers showed he has talent this year, but struggled to put together a truly
successful season. Arguably Brendan Gaughan, who has vocally complained about
his equipment, also showed a tremendous amount of potential. Word is on Jayski
that Roger Penske got a little trigger happy and has let Gaughan go today, in my
opinion a very premature move. The likely replacement looks to be Travis Kvapil,
with Gaughan possible for the Gene Haas #0 ride.

Busch series runner-up Kyle Busch will be joining these two along with Jason
Leffler and Carl Edwards in 2005. Any one of these could have a very high-profile run
in 2005 and make the Chase if the cards fall right, and should make for entertaining
racing.

Rumor also indicates Boris Said may be joining this group for at least a partial
season run. While Said is far from a racing newbie, he’s still awaiting his shot at
NASCAR’s premier series. Have no doubt, no matter the racing series Boris is a
winner. If he gets a legitimate chance in the Nextel Cup Series with reasonable
equipment, Said could provide millions of NASCAR fans with thrills and chills. Just
imagine the wigs in the stands.

Either Scott Wimmer or Scott Riggs (or both) could find themselves in a tenuous
position if they don’t step things up for 2005. Both have high-profile sponsorships
and neither made much of a splash this season.

The Fated Few: Waiting patiently on the sidelines are some outstanding talents that
are all but assured a shot at Cup racing in the near future.

2004 Busch series champion Martin Truex Jr. has been groomed for a place at
Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI). JJ Yeley and Clint Boyer are often mentioned in
Silly Season rumors, and Shane Hmiel seems to be creating at least a murmur if not
an all-out buzz.

Other noteworthy drivers who could make the cut in the next few years include Justin
Labonte, son of veteran Terry Labonte; NASCAR Busch Series newcomer Reed
Sorenson; and the first woman to ever lead a lap in a Craftsman Truck Series race –
a feat just accomplished this past Saturday, Tina Gordon.

The Comeback Kids: Silly Season can bring about all sorts of surprises, and there
are several former Cup stars that could once again grace the track in the next few
years.

Jerry Nadeau was seriously injured on May 2, 2003 in an accident during practice at
Richmond. While he’s been recovering, veteran Joe Nemechek has filled in nicely in
the 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet . That doesn’t dampen Nadeau’s desire to be back on the
track, and despite the fact that some owners might hesitate to put him back in a race
car, Nadeau intends to attempt a comeback if/when it “feels right.”

Steve Park, once a protégé of Dale Earnhardt and a driver who remains hugely
popular today, struggled to come back after a devastating Busch Series crash in
September 2001. He returned to Cup racing in 2002, but a few rides later left in 2003.
He switched to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004, in the truck formerly run by
Brendan Gaughan, and initially his poor performance continued. But ever since
Orleans Racing gave him a new crew chief, Park has been looking more and more
like his old self, and after another top 5 run this past Saturday night Park sits
impressively in 8th place in the standings. Most fans would welcome the return of a
healthy Park to Cup racing with open arms.

Ricky Craven and Casey Atwood could also stage a return to Cup racing.

The Field Fillers: Most of these drivers are perhaps the most admirable men in the
garage. They race for a cause, for a memory or just for the sheer joy of racing. They
aren’t going to win, but they give us something to root for. Kyle Petty, Morgan
Shepherd, Kirk Shelmerdine, Joe Ruttman and a few others have a place not only
on the track but in our hearts.

In conclusion…
It’s been a tough season for racing traditionalists. But one custom will endure no
matter what is concocted in the halls of NASCAR. Week after week, drivers will
continue to put their lives on the line in a bid for that checkered flag. Their stories,
their dreams, their successes and defeats are the real drama in stock car racing.

As this new era begins, we should send off the vets with the utmost pageantry and
all our best wishes, and welcome the rookies with open arms. They have all earned
our respect by just showing up.

Have a comment, or wish to point out an error or tell me I missed your favorite
driver? Post it in our new forum!

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