Making predictions are a craps shoot at best. But if the first two races of the Sprint Cup season are any indication of events yet to come, I'm betting that Michael Waltrip will be in Victory Lane at least once in 2009 (and not just to congratulate a competitor).
Call me crazy, but Waltrip has looked (dare I say it?) impressive, in both the Daytona and Fontana races. He's been running well, racing consistently and he's been there at the end finishing strong both times.
Compare the two races we've seen so far with his stats from 2008. This year, Waltrip snagged a 7th-place finish at Daytona and a 15th at Fontana. Last year he finished 29th and 28th, respectively. This year, he is currently ranked 7th in points, with 264 to his credit. By this time last year, he had only racked up a measly 160.
Don't be discouraged. I'm sure this new and improved Waltrip won't fail to disappoint. There will still be days when he'll pit backwards. Who knows? He may even take another stab at adding "alternative fuel" to his Toyota. After all, a leopard doesn't change his spots.
But, for the time being at least, it looks like 2009 is going to be a good year. And this chick predicts Waltrip will take the checkers.
Care to double down on that?
Showing posts with label Sprint Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sprint Cup. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Kyle to F1? Say It Ain't So!
When word broke today that Kyle Busch's agent said the driver is "leaving the door open" for a switch to Formula One racing, there were -- most assuredly -- legions of NASCAR fans who heaved a collective sigh of relief and muttered a "good riddance" under their breaths.
This news was probably also viewed as a providential blessing straight from the throne of heaven by the small, struggling Camping World and Nationwide teams who are dog-tired of gazing at Kyle's bumper, while their opportunity to impress potential sponsors grows bleaker with each race he wins.
Yes, Kyle is arrogant, at times mean-spirited, and he often acts like he's God's gift to motorsports. However, the loss of Kyle Busch to Sprint Cup racing would be a terrible blow to the series.
Imagine the Sprint Cup Chase without Busch. Who would fans boo with snarls of disdain? Who would they blame for every wreck, spinout and caution that hampered their favorite driver? And who would take his place as King of All Things Theatrical and Antagonizer of Earnhardt and Edwards?
Though Tony Stewart has had his moments, and Denny Hamlin can be obnoxious when necessary, there's just nobody like Kyle for racing excitement, quotable interviews, and sheer blood-boiling drama.
Don't believe me? Just imagine how much fun we would have missed without moments like these:
"Some guys having some bad days and not doing their best out there, just made their bad day our bad day. It's just a shame. It's just unfortunate that two guys got together that were a lap down that were fighting over nothing."
“It's unfortunate that a guy that's messed up his whole day on pit road and screwed up that he has to make our day worse.”
"He hit me getting into Turn 1. Whatever. Carl's going to say he's sorry, that he didn't want to race that way, but he always does. We'll take it, we'll go on and we'll race him that way in the Chase if that's the way he wants it.”
"He was slowing me down a tremendous amount. I was either going to move him out of the way or he was going to get out of the way."
"I left a lane for him on the outside because I knew he was going to have a good run coming off the corner. He ran me over for no reason whatsoever.”
"He'll always come back and say he's sorry, He did it at Milwaukee and he's done it a few other times. It's just his normal fashion. That's fine. I've grown to know that now."
“I guess Harvick didn't have very nice things to say, and Carl got his feelings hurt.”
"Walking down pit road, [when] saying congratulations to Jeff Gordon, I got blown off. I guess I'm the outsider looking in now and I'll probably not be invited to the team meetings next week."
Yes, Kyle is the man we love to hate. But let's face it. We'd all hate it if he left.
This news was probably also viewed as a providential blessing straight from the throne of heaven by the small, struggling Camping World and Nationwide teams who are dog-tired of gazing at Kyle's bumper, while their opportunity to impress potential sponsors grows bleaker with each race he wins.
Yes, Kyle is arrogant, at times mean-spirited, and he often acts like he's God's gift to motorsports. However, the loss of Kyle Busch to Sprint Cup racing would be a terrible blow to the series.
Imagine the Sprint Cup Chase without Busch. Who would fans boo with snarls of disdain? Who would they blame for every wreck, spinout and caution that hampered their favorite driver? And who would take his place as King of All Things Theatrical and Antagonizer of Earnhardt and Edwards?
Though Tony Stewart has had his moments, and Denny Hamlin can be obnoxious when necessary, there's just nobody like Kyle for racing excitement, quotable interviews, and sheer blood-boiling drama.
Don't believe me? Just imagine how much fun we would have missed without moments like these:
"Some guys having some bad days and not doing their best out there, just made their bad day our bad day. It's just a shame. It's just unfortunate that two guys got together that were a lap down that were fighting over nothing."
“It's unfortunate that a guy that's messed up his whole day on pit road and screwed up that he has to make our day worse.”
"He hit me getting into Turn 1. Whatever. Carl's going to say he's sorry, that he didn't want to race that way, but he always does. We'll take it, we'll go on and we'll race him that way in the Chase if that's the way he wants it.”
"He was slowing me down a tremendous amount. I was either going to move him out of the way or he was going to get out of the way."
"I left a lane for him on the outside because I knew he was going to have a good run coming off the corner. He ran me over for no reason whatsoever.”
"He'll always come back and say he's sorry, He did it at Milwaukee and he's done it a few other times. It's just his normal fashion. That's fine. I've grown to know that now."
“I guess Harvick didn't have very nice things to say, and Carl got his feelings hurt.”
"Walking down pit road, [when] saying congratulations to Jeff Gordon, I got blown off. I guess I'm the outsider looking in now and I'll probably not be invited to the team meetings next week."
Yes, Kyle is the man we love to hate. But let's face it. We'd all hate it if he left.
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