LET THE ARGUING BEGIN...
Here's a good topic, looking at todays driver's, who among the top 35 do you think would have been able to compete AND win in the Cup seriers? Lets pick an era, lets say from 1965-1975. I know there was a lot that went into determinning a winning driver back then, but lets say in equal equipment: What drivers do you think has the talent to run against the heros of that era?Factors:Great DriversNarrow Biasply TiresDrum BrakesHeaveier CarStock Bodies (well, somewhat)Very Little AeroNo Power SteeringNo Driver Comfort AidsVery Little MONEYEtc, Etc...Bumpertag in S. Carolina
I haven't posted yet because every time I think I have the best picks, I think of a different driver. No doubt I agree with Stewart and Martin. I keep including Jeff Gordon based on his past history, cause lets face it, the boy got the job done back in his mid twenties.I would love to have seen what Tim Richmond and Davey Allison could have done. They had it all.
Sorry Tim, I really can't argue with your picks. I don't think Martin or Kahne could see over the steering wheel or reach the pedals without some sort of aid, but they can drive an out of control car. I would also throw Cousin Carl among that group because he would follow Pearson around the track and at least get a second or third.LOL Tim Richmond and Davey Allison would win in any era. I would throw Kyle Busch in that race just to see how he'd handle a fight afterwards. Image tangling with Curtis Turner, Bobby Allison, Tiny Lund....Pete
this time frame you threw out is about when power steering was coming into play and tires were becoming more sophisticated but these cars were a bear back then,i know for some reason,ive seen the time i couldnt get out after a race from being just flat out waisted but my pick would be 1) tony stewart----2) ryan newman---3) carl edwards-- 4) mark martin--- 5) denny hamlin ---6) kevin harvick ---7) martin truex --- 8) kyle bush ---9)almindinger ---10) ambrose --- they are others that have the ability but not the stamani to fight the bull for 500 laps
Het Pete, I would love to see Kyle go up against any of those guys. I think it may slow him from running up to someone's car after the checkered flag. I don't think Curtis would have let him walk away.Bumpertag in S. Carolina
Some of the ones y'all have mentioned wouldn't have survived the "after-the-race" "activeties". But then I think about Little Bud Moore tangling with the likes of Tiny Lund...that's a cool story and Little Bud tells it so well. I ask this question to all the legends we interview them and the #1 answer from them is...Tony Stewart. We get an occaisional Carl...but that's pretty much it. I agree them.
Although his career was cut short and might still be racing today, one I would like to throw into the mix would be Ernie Irvine.If not for the crazy tire war that led to his accident I believe he would have kept Dale, Sr. from getting to seven championships. Ernie was ready to step in and take top billing in the sport.Taking nothing away from Tony, but Ernie was one rough and tough racer that would have fit right in with the best of the past.
Of course, this is only hypothetical, but the 1st thought that came to my head was Kyle Busch, then that's when those brain cells of mine(all two of 'em, according to my wife) started working... the guy's arguably has the best seat-of-his-pants car control of today's era, alot of guys out there today can hang it loose out there for short periods of a 500 miler, but they always lose wholesale positions while fighting that condition or wreck, that kid can do it the entire race if he had to, and still run in the top 5!! ...but... he would not make it back-in-the day, here's why, nobody would let him drive!! not the top flight teams, anyway. his personality would have had him black-balled (or black-eyed) from their ranks, while he could drive well, he would not be accepted by fellow drivers(the brat syndrome) the fans would feel the same way, too. most drivers then didn't have P.R. agents or marketing teams help sell their image to the masses, making it harder to gain fan support...so for all the talent I feel he has, he wouldn't be successful back then... so who would? well mark martin, but is'nt he already from that era?, well... almost, he would have been the Jeff Gordon of that time, and he would be accepted by his peers and fans alike, so without a doubt, my pick is "the kid" Mark Martin
Don't dismiss Kyle yet. The question was the level of talent, but the personality. I agree with your assessment of Kyle and his problems with the fans and other drivers, but you can't ignore his seat-of-the-pants car control. I'd probably add him to my list... for now. I'd have to say Tim Richmond would make it, no question in my mind. That CAT was unbeleivable.
yea, I'm with ya on Kyle, I feel feel he is the best talent on the track right now, I just don't think he would have been given the oppurtinities back then, regardless of skills, y'know? but hey ol' D.W. sure stewed the pot in his first few years, too, and he wound up having a "little" success. different talents make different drivers successful, Kyle can run loose all day like ol' #3 used to, while Jeff Gordon can run every lap w/ little or no mistakes, not even the slightess wiggle, lap times like a robot,not to mention getting on & off pit road carl edwards' physical fitness and ability to mount furious rallies in closing laps give him an advantage, especially, in hot weather races. So, success, is relative to eras, y'know... it's soooo hard to pick one from the current ranks and match him w/ past champions, and vice-versa. David Pearson said, when asked if he could be competitive in today's nascar like he did the 60's & 70's, that he don't know if he could or not. But man, Bumpertag, this blog really got me computing the "what-ifs". which brings me to Tim Richmond, that's such a tragic story, I had picked him as my new favorite when I finally realized King Richard was never gonna win again... we all know the rest of that one, same goes for davey, we sure wish they could still be here. but anyway great blog, B., keep 'em comin'
I was like you, I was a huge Petty fan but had to accept that his winning days were over and I looked at Tim Richmond as "My Guy". He was so exciting to watch. To this day I have never seen anyone qualify at Charlotte like Tim. Every lap he came out of turn 4 sideways, but he never lifted.Here's a little story about Tim:Back in the early 80's I volunteered at James Hylton's and would go to a few races each year with them. This one race at Charlotte Tim had fallen out of the race and the car was being prepared to load up and head back to the shop. 1 of my duties at the race that day was to run gas. So after a pitstop I headed to the pumps and found my place in line. There wasn't any fans walking around, only a few crewman and carts were the only thing in sight. Well Tim walked out of the drivers lounge and made his way towards the pumps and stopped to speak to a crewman he knew. Tim was dressed in a black western shirt, tight jeans and cowboy boots. I turned back to see if I could move up closer to the pumps and when I looked back, I saw girls flocking from all directions. There had to be at least 12 of them, they circled Tim in a matter of seconds. He talked to all of them, sighed autographics and had his picture took with all of them. He hugged them all and smiled as he talked to them. These girls were in heaven. As he stated walking back towards the garage, the circle of girls moved with him. I never saw him try to get away from them or avoid them, he was very happy to talk with them and he knew what it ment to them.