In the past I have expressed an opinion that Juan Pablo Montoya is the best "driver" in NASCAR. After his own admission, I may have to reconsider that opinion.
"In Nascar, there are more than 40 cars racing wheel to wheel for up to three hours. “It’s harder here,” Montoya said. “When you run fifteenth, sometimes you think it sucks. But look at the big picture: fifteenth here is like sixth or seventh in F1, because there are twice as many cars. The incredible thing is here I run fifteenth or twentieth on average and there are four or five weeks in the year where I have a chance of winning. In F1 if you run sixth or seventh, you run sixth or seventh the whole year."
The 25 Greatest Daytona 500 Drivers Of All-Time by Ron Thornton
The countdown continues as we near the 49th edition of the Great American Race. With the anticipation building, combined with my (moparornocar) love for history, statistics, and possibly for causing trouble, I thought I would take a crack at coming up with a list to honor the 25 greatest Daytona 500 drivers of all-time.
How successful was I in coming up with a method of making such a determination that most, though understandably not all, might agree with? Well, the 25 best I came up with represent 38 Daytona 500 victories and include 20 of the 50 best drivers as decided during NASCAR's 50th anniversary celebrations nine years ago. As for the five not on that 1998 chart, they managed to combine for six wins and 38 Top Ten finishes when it came to competing in the February spectacle.
David Pearson
10. DAVID PEARSON - 110 Points 1 Win (1976) 3 Top Threes (1966, 70, 76) 6 Top Fives (1966, 68, 70-71, 75-76) 10 Top Tens (1962, 66, 68-71, 75-76, 83-84)
9. JEFF GORDON - 113 Points 3 Wins (1997, 99, 2005) 5 Top Fives (1993-94, 97, 99, 2005) 7 Top Tens (1993-94, 97, 99, 2002, 04-05)
8. TERRY LABONTE - 118 Points 4 Top Threes (1986, 90, 94, 97) 6 Top Fives (1982, 86, 88, 90, 94, 97) 12 Top Tens (1980, 82-83, 86, 88-90, 92, 94-95, 97, 2000)
7. BENNY PARSONS - 130 Points 1 Win (1975) 5 Top Threes (1975-78, 87) 8 Top Fives (1972, 75-78, 80, 86-87) 9 Top Tens (1969, 72, 75-78, 80, 86-87)
Come along if you dare. Sterling Marlin fans are cut from a different cloth. We are "racers."
It's easy to be a fan of Dale Earnhardt Junior, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmy Johnson or Kasey Kahne. These are probably the top five most popular Nextel Cup Drivers. I'm not here to argue that. But how hard is it to follow these guys knowing they will run up front?
No, "racers" follow their guy even if he struggles. When they win, it is so much sweeter.
Sterling Marlin fans waited for over 200 Winston Cup starts for Sterling's first win. We are not about to give up on him now. Not yet. But this year will be tough. No doubt about it.
So, if you want to learn more about Nextel Cup racing, what it's really about for many teams, join me on this journey. I guarantee I will be reporting from a different angle from all of the main Nextel Cup sources. If you follow someone who wasn't even close to making The Chase last year, then you especially might enjoy the ride. Come along if you dare.
Do We Have Sponsorship?
Sterling Marlin fan rhendryx has been in Daytona. He is helping Marlin fans with the do we have sponsorship issue. Marlin fans know, that Sterling has full sponsorship even if it winds up being Ginn Clubs, owned by Ginn Racing owner Bobby Ginn.
We also know that sponsorship means more money. We know it takes lot's of money. We know our odds are better if we have lot's of money. We are hoping to start with that Waste Management will be a primary sponsor this year.
Clue 1: Waste Management is the same size as Ginn Clubs on Sterling's trailer.
Question 1: Will the sponsorship be 50 - 50?
Clue 2: This car was used for testing in Daytona.
Clue 3: From sterlingmarlinfans.com Sharon in Columbia TN, Crew Chief, Joined: 24 Feb 2005, Posts: 3841, Location: STERLIN MARLIN COUNTRY, Tue Jan 09, 2007, 11:01 pm
I'm guessing that the "14" is the backup from Talladega. Notice the unscathed '06 paint scheme.
Clue 4:rhendryx, Fabricator,
Age: 52, Joined: 26 Feb 2005, Posts: 493, Location: Cigar City,
I think your guess is right on, Miss Sharon. The 14 used the name plate "Monte Carlo". This year Chevy's will be "Impala's". I think you are 100% correct that the 14 is last years superspeedway car.
Question 2: Does this indicate that WM is not a primary sponsor?
Clue 5: This car shows no indication of sponsors.
Clue 6: Sharon in Columbia TN, The "14x" is probably the primary car from Talladega that has been re-skinned and straightened or a new car they have built.
Clue 7: rhendryx, Hard to say for sure what the 14x is.
Clue 8: Sterling is wearing a Ginn Clubs uniform.
Question 3? Does this indicate Waste management is not a Primary sponsor?
Conclusions: The truck makes me think 50 - 50 Waste Management and Ginn. But just like last year, there is plenty of room on the truck to add other sponsors or enlarge the logo's of existing ones. So it likely indicates maybe 33% of the sponsorship is committed here between the two sponsors giving each of them 17%.
I am saying that we can expect to see WM on for at least 6 races. Last year they committed to 12 earlier on. It looks like to me they have committed to less than that this year. Can't say I blame them. Our production last year for their dollar was next to nil.
The WM paint scheme is likely last year's Talladega back up body, not necessarily "car." It's likely that we are testing one of the restrictor plate chassis that we used at Daytona and/or Talladega last year. To me it does not indicate sponsorship since it is last year's scheme. However, it is definitely a tease to WM hoping they will get good feedback from it and offer us more sponsorship.
The 14x is probably a new car. It looks to be ready to put any logo on it that anyone that wants their name on our Daytona car can buy from us. We tested well. Anyone out there want to help us?
Sterling is probably just wearing the Ginn suit because it is last year's suit and we know Ginn will sponsor us if needed. You can't give WM too much for free. Or they will not pay more for more pub.
So if you are a Marlin fan or any other interested party and care to comment, what do you think?
If your not an interested party, see what we have to put up with? It's not what most Nextel cup fans are talking about is it? Nope? Jr. will be in the red 8, Tony in the orange 20, Jeff in the Blue 24, Kasey in the red 9 and Jimmy in the blue 48. You know their sponsors as well as I do.
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David Pearson
Bill Elliott
