Drivers on the bubble

March 26, 2007

By Chuck Abrams

Chuck Abrams

There has been a lot made of the Top 35 rule this year, as well as last, and there are several drivers now on the bubble needing to make races on speed alone.

Most notable among those drivers is Jamie McMurray. McMurray seemed full of promise after stepping in for an injured Sterling Marlin in 2002 and promptly winning. He even got a great payday in the driver derby when he and Kurt Busch left their respective teams for greener pastures. While Busch has prospered moderately since then, McMurray is winless in 191 starts and hasn’t had a top 10 finish since last November.

The rest of the unlucky are Dave Blaney, Dario Franchitti, Regan Smith and Kyle Petty. Not too far in front of McMurray is Hornish who is just 4 points ahead. Among the surprises this year is Casey Mears who is just 16 points ahead of the Top 35.

I expected much more from Mears this year but with Dale Jr. as the only Hendrick driver in the top 12, perhaps we all overestimated Hendrick this season. But the season is young and Gordon and Johnson are not far out. Mears has to be one of the most disappointing drivers in the early going. I don’t know what is going on with that team, but look for changes soon if he does not get better.

I am also a bit surprised that Dave Blaney is as close to the cut off as he is, based on his early season run at Daytona. But I am not surprised at Franchitti since he had limited runs in a stock car prior to this season. Montoya’s success does not mean all Indy style drivers will make the jump as easily. I think Franchitti will struggle all year long with perhaps one or two races he will finish well in.

Petty has been on the bubble for years and seems destined to finish his career there, sadly enough. Hornish would be below the Top 35 if he had not had the luxury of a former Champion in Kurt Busch and owner in Roger Penske transferring points from Busch to Hornish. That scenario gave Hornish a chance to get better acclimated in his Cup car. While he has had a few promising runs at various times in any given race, his finishes have not been there. If he misses some races, and that is not a stretch, look for changes in that team as well.

With Dale Jarrett retiring, that gives someone a bit of wiggle room staying on the bubble. But as the season progresses, these drivers are all going to need to find speed in order to keep racing every week.

Hornish is safe in his ride. Franchitti is safe. Heck, even Petty is safe. But McMurray has got to perform and soon. I don’t know how long Jack Roush will allow him to stay in the car and wallow below the Top 35 in owner’s points. Roush may try a new crew chief first, perhaps two. But after that, it will be on McMurray. If he does not perform by the time the Chase rolls around, he may find himself looking for a new job.

So long D.J.
Bristol was DJ’s last official race of the regular season. After all his years of winning and championship runs, DJ leaves behind a storied career and a legacy befitting of his dad, Gentleman Ned. DJ has not had a top 10 season since 2002 and finished 41st last season. His move to Toyota was not as successful as he had hoped and while Michael Waltrip Racing had high hopes for 2008, success of other Toyota teams has not spilled over to MWR quite yet. That sends DJ off to the TV both and a final appearance in the All Star Race later in the season. He deserved a better finish to his career.

As a fan, I’d like to thank DJ for his grace, his candidness and the way he carried himself throughout his career. Good luck DJ and thanks for the memories.

Let me know your thoughts on all this.

Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.

Feel free to send Chuck your thoughts on this and other race topics at Insider Racing News.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.

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