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Most overated drivers
Since my last post,most popular driver, turned into who was overrated or not, I thought I would give my opinion on who I thought was the most overrated drivers in NEXTEL cup today. Since I'm an employee of Penske Racing South, Ryan, Rusty, and Travis are going to be left out of this discussion. If you would like to comment on them that is fine, I'm not going to. Here are three drivers that I think get more publicity for doing little on the track. My first is Jammie Mcmurray, what has he done. He is a bunch of hype with no stats to back it. Everyone picked him to be in the top ten this year and I don't see it happening. I think he is an average driver at best. My second is Brian Vickers. He was built up as this young kid who is going to do great things but I haven't seen it yet. Yes, he is very young and has a future in front of him, but as of now he isn't living up to the hype. My last one is probably going to get some people roud up. I think Kasey Kahne is very overrated. He is a dam good driver, don't get me wrong, but the attention he has gotten is very early to be given to a kid who hasn't won yet. Second is great, but you need to be able to finish the deal. If the media would shut up about him he wouldn't have made my list. The media says hes the next Jeff Gordon and keeps comparing him to all these great drivers, yet he hasn't won a race. These are my three that i think the media makes out to be better than they are. As of now I haven't seen much to make me think any of them are the next big thing. Others that were on the list but not in the top 3 were Casey Mears, and Micheal Waltrip. Let the discussion begin.
April 5, 2005 in Race talk | Permalink
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Comments
I'm surprised Kyle Busch wasn't in your top three. When he got the pole a few weeks ago, everyone was falling all over themselves to lavish praise on him. I guess since then it has kind of died down a bit, but if you were to tune in to your first Cup race, you'd think he has a couple of wins and is in the top ten.
Posted by: Shane | Apr 5, 2005 2:26:27 PM
My picks are Kasey Kahne and Kyle Bush. For someone who is a "phenom" Kasey has not been doing all that well. I am a fan of his but I think all the hype surrounding him is ridiculous. Phenom does not mean you come in second a number of times...you are supposed to win. Kyle Bush comes off as arrogant, and cocky but has no reason to be. He won a pole and did well at Vegas but big deal, Scott Wimmer got third in the 500 once and I have not heard from him since. I am a strong believer that Hendrick keeps sending in these young drivers to soon. He made the mistake with Vickers and I think he made the same mistake with Kyle Bush.
Posted by: Angela | Apr 5, 2005 2:53:07 PM
1. Dale Jr.
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Jamie McMurray
4. Kyle Busch
5. Greg Biffle
Posted by: anonymous | Apr 5, 2005 5:48:48 PM
You cant really judge any of driver in the begining of their careers so I dont think its fair to be talking about Bush, Vickers or even Kahne yet. give them five seasons or so before you judge their abilities. Here's my top 3.
1.Michael Waltrip
2.Dale Jr.
3.Jeremy Mayfield
Posted by: anonymous1 | Apr 5, 2005 6:19:48 PM
Junior overrated?! Wow! I think Junior is a great driver. He's having problems with his new crew chief, now, but remember when Jeff Gordon and Robbie Loomis first started working together? Everybody said Jeff's success was all because of Ray Evernham. But Jeff is back, strong as ever. I think Junior will be, too.
As for the young drivers, I think Kyle Busch will be good. I'm puzzled that Kasey Kahne is struggling so much this year. As for Brian Vickers, he had a crappy crew chief last year. (You may remember how well Peter Sospenzo did with Jeremy Mayfield. No? That's because Jeremy was terrible with Peter.) So I'm giving Brian Vickers this year to prove himself. I think he'll be better. Maybe he won't be great, but he'll be a lot better than last year. Rick Hendrick should have sent up Brian's championship winning crew chief with him last year. Hopefully, they'll make up for lost time soon.
Posted by: Linda | Apr 5, 2005 6:24:57 PM
Yeah sure Dale Jr is overrated, cuz i mean he has NO wins right? oh wait he DOES have wins....in fact....6 last season. the same season rookie phenom Kahne had....wait for it.....ZERO!!!! pull your anonymous heads out of your anonymous asses please. as far as Waltrip, if you bother listening to the media you'll find that outside superspeedways they really don't build him up as a great driver. he's earned his place as a great superspeedway driver but otherwise you can't really call him OVERrated since he isn't really rated anywhere else in the first place. i don't really catch a lot of hype on McMurray at least nowhere NEAR the hype Kahne and Busch-lite are getting. at least McMurray has won a race.
Posted by: mayorjimmy | Apr 5, 2005 7:17:45 PM
I have respect for McMurray for two things: Firstly the way he came in and won in his second or third Cup race, and secondly the way he won 3 or 4 Busch races at Rockingham in a row. Rockingham was a very difficult track, similar to Darlington, which McMurray is also good at.
Anyway, my picks for overrated drivers would be Vickers, Kyle Busch, and Kahne.
Posted by: David | Apr 5, 2005 7:43:22 PM
Before everyone bags on what an overrated driver Kahne is, I would say dont judge until at least after Texas. Anyone who followed racing last year knows that Kahne should have won Texas, as well as many other races, if not for bad luck. Kahne was running fourth place at Daytona this year until Leffler hit him in the pits and ran great at Atlanta, not to mention this week coming back from a wreck to 14th place. So give me a break, he is a great driver, and once they figure out that new dodge charger, you all will be eating your words.
Posted by: Nancy | Apr 5, 2005 8:41:37 PM
if kahne wants to prove us wrong be my guest. till then i think we're being more than fair.
Posted by: mayorjimmy | Apr 5, 2005 8:52:52 PM
How about top 3 "Washed Up" Drivers?
(Rusty and Mark aren't on the list...")
Maybe
Shrader, Spencer & Kyle (yes he has a to 10 this week but 1/3 of the field or more wrecked out...). Not to say I don't like these guys, but they're done...
L
Posted by: Lonnie | Apr 5, 2005 10:48:59 PM
As far as God(DaleJr) goes I don't think overrated is the proper term. He has performed well, although inconsistent at times. However he was beaten out for rookie of the year by Kenseth, has never led the series in victories and has not won a title. Stewart, Kenseth and Busch have won the past 3 titles and they get far less coverage when performing well than God does when performing badly. I think the proper way to describe him would be overhyped.
Posted by: Chevysucks | Apr 6, 2005 7:25:09 AM
I am a huge Jeff Gordon fan as well as a Rick Hendrick fan. I agree with the comments that Vickers and Busch were brought up too early. Vickers ran one season in Busch and won the championship and then was shot up to the 25 team. I agree that his busch crew should have been brought up with him to continue their success and lets face it, the #25 doesn't have a successful history. They've had Joe Nemechek and Jerry Nadeau and that team wasn't that strong. It was not fair to bring Vickers up so early, same with Kyle. I guess Hendrick was forced to bring him up with the announcement of Terry Labonte's plan to scale back. I hate to see young drivers thrown into the fire so soon because it can be devastating on them. My third is also Kahne although I really believe he'll turn the season around because he has a great team and a great team owner in Evernham. Look what he did for Gordon. Robbie Gordon is another who isn't talked about but I feel is really overrated.
Posted by: Darren | Apr 6, 2005 8:34:39 AM
I respectfully disagree with anyone who thinks McMurray is overrated. Had it not been for a 25 point infraction at Bristol last spring, he'd have finished high in the Chase (me thinks 4th?) I think, if anything the entire Ganassi organization is overrated, and the drivers suffer. Marlin was excellent and a lock for the 2002 championship before he sustained his injury. Casey Mears is a shoe and one of my favorite drivers, who has shown last year he belongs. McMurray is a victim of his own early success by virtually bursting on the scene and doing little since. I truly believe Reed Sorenson is the future of the organization...
Posted by: Jason | Apr 6, 2005 8:37:44 AM
I agree with the Robby Gordon comment. I don't really know why he's in NASCAR now. He should start up an IRL team for himself to drive full-time.
Posted by: David | Apr 6, 2005 9:02:24 AM
I'm no Jr. fan, but I have to agree that he has ability. THe thing is, you have to look at this "overrated" question in context. Junior came out of the chute being compared to his father, and I don't think he ever will live up to The Intimidator...so in that regard, I do find him overrated (again, not against his current competitors, but against his most common comparison). As for overhyped, that's just a function of marketing and time.
As for purely overrated ability against their current on-track competition...I'd say Harvick and Michael Waltrip. Both have had long-tenured rides to prove themselves, unlike some others that might have made the list. Despite this weekends wins, Kevin gets way too much credit for taking over the ride he did and only producing 5 wins over 4 seasons. As for Michael, I really think he was just competent enough to ride superior equipment to wins at 'Dega and Daytona, but has not lived up to his ride or organization in any other ways...except commercial presence.
Posted by: Ryan | Apr 6, 2005 10:45:37 AM
I agree that Jr. is not so much overrated as overhyped.
My theory about Vickers and Kyle Busch being brought up so fast is that Rick Hendrick thinks its better for a team to have a mediocre year with the permanent driver than to just be getting used to a temporary fill-in driver then switch drivers again and have all that adjustment to do all over.
Overrated/underrated isn't an issue I spent much thought on. I have my favorites and I root for them regardless of what anyone else thinks about it.
Posted by: M. B. Voelker | Apr 6, 2005 11:42:11 AM
I think more time needs to be given to all of the young drivers you mention. These guys are still "cutting their teeth" and finding the right chemistry with crew chiefs and teams. I'm just happy Ryan Newman finished as bad as he did at Bristol!
Posted by: Baker | Apr 6, 2005 12:41:33 PM
I think 1 of the most overated drivers is Earnheart Jr. He is plastered all over commercials and there are better drivers than him by far. To name a few there's Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Elliot Sadler, Stewart and these are just a few. Dale Jr. is always whinning about something but there he is in an overabundance of commercials. Just my opinion.
Posted by: Robert | Apr 6, 2005 2:58:25 PM
I'm a Kahne fan...impatient...but hopeful. He's still awfully young. I'm more into questioning DJ and the damned truck...and Ricky Rudd who hasn't moved the 21 out of the back of the pack in forever!
Posted by: Ed Fulginiti | Apr 6, 2005 3:01:01 PM
Can't agree that McMurray is overrated. He ran consistently last year, and was kept out of the chase by that 25-point penalty. Under the old points system, he would have finished fourth in points. He also jumped in the #2 truck at the last minute and won at Martinsville last year or the year before. He started off this year right where he left off last year, so he can't be called overrated.
All the others, though -- Vickers (no question), Kahne, Mears (is he ever NOT around for a wreck), Kyle Busch, Waltrip -- are fair game for the title overrated. I would add Jeff Green to this bunch. How many Cup starts does he have going back to the days when he drove the No. 46 First Union car part-time for Sabates? He's had a lot of chances in good equipment (like Childress) and what's he got to show for it?
Posted by: Rick | Apr 6, 2005 3:05:20 PM
I couldn't agree with "Robert" more...Jr has got to be the most overrated driver EVER! In my humble opinion, the only reason he is who he is today is because of his daddy! Yes, he can drive, but not near as good as a third of the other drivers! He is so popular and "overrated" because of his NAME! No disrespect to Sr, but geez, at least make Jr EARN your respect folks!
Posted by: Robin | Apr 6, 2005 3:20:59 PM
Overrated
Labonte
Martin
Wallace (all)
Sadler
Posted by: David | Apr 6, 2005 3:22:53 PM
Iam with the Kahne Group. He is the #1 most overrated. At least now we all get to hear about Carl Edwards for a while. Iam not sure if Vickers was ever rated. Now to stir you all up. Dale Jr is a nobody and will NEVER, I SAID NEVER win a champonship. Anybody that compairs him to his father is crazy. Sr was the best and Jeff Gordon is a close second. I think we are seeing Jrs true colors this year and no he will not make the chase. But thats just what I think please dont throw Bud cans at me.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 6, 2005 3:25:37 PM
Dale Jr is popular with the MTV crowd. That and his name (nothing wrong with that) helped him to greatness. Not to forget back to back Busch Series Championships put him in the spotlight.
Good Driver always in the hunt each race. Greatness? probably so in the very near future.
Posted by: David | Apr 6, 2005 3:26:16 PM
I don't agree with either McMurray or Vickers being on the overrated list. McMurrray is an awesome young driver who, if if weren't for some point deductions, would have made the Chase for the Championship last season. He is a talented driver that always runs into some bad luck at the wrong time.
As for Brian Vickers, he is definitely not overrated. Last season there was a lot of hype about him being the previous year's Busch champ, but Hendrick put him with an awful crew chief. Now that Vickers is teamed back up with McGrew, his championship winning crew chief, I think Vickers will have a much better season than last.
Oh, and just for the record, I HATE Kasey Kahne. The boy gets a couple of 2nd place finishes and he's 'the next big thing'. Plus, half of his fans are teenage girls who just like to drool over him, anyway. Watch for Kahne to be mediocre this season.
Posted by: HMSfan | Apr 6, 2005 3:30:19 PM
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