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10 Drivers With Something to Prove in 2009

An Opinion



January 1, 2009

By Doug Demmons


Doug Demmons
Juan Pablo Montoya started out 2008 with the motto “Chase or Bust.” Neither happened. But in some ways the year was a step backward for the ex-Formula One star who won at Infineon in 2007 but not since. Montoya largely avoided the financial turmoil at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates that sank Dario Franchitti’s team, but frequent turnover in the crew chief position had Montoya fuming at midseason. Montoya is a talented driver who could easily land another ride. If the new Earnhardt-Ganassi team and Montoya don’t deliver results in 2009, look for a parting of the ways.

Jamie McMurray finished 2008 with three straight third-place finishes after an awful start that saw him briefly fall out of the top 35. But he hasn’t won since the Pepsi 400 in 2007. He has had three straight disappointing seasons at Roush after signing one of the biggest contracts ever. He is reunited with crew chief Donnie Wingo this year, but a fourth disappointing season and he might find himself the odd man out when Roush has to cut from five to four teams.

Matt Kenseth is Mr. Consistency, finishing in the top 10 every season since 2002. He had 20 top 10 finishes last year, but no wins in his first season without crew chief Robbie Reiser. He and Jimmie Johnson are the only drivers to have made the Chase every year. But he doesn’t get the respect that should go with his 2003 championship because critics say he’s too conservative and epitomizes points racing. Shedding that image will require not just wins but attitude.

Kurt Busch won one rain-strategy race last year at New Hampshire. It was better than nothing but not by much. Busch’s season -- which began on a high when he pushed teammate Ryan Newm an to victory at Daytona -- can be summed up best by the last seven races -- 21st at Talladega followed by third at Charlotte, 36th at Martinsville, sixth at Atlanta, 41st at Texas, second at Phoenix and 43rd at Homestead. Consistency is the key to getting back to the Chase in ’09 but that might be a tall order at Penske.

Casey Mears had just one top five finish in 2008. And that didn’t cut it at a team like Hendrick. It won’t cut it at Childress either, where Mears becomes the team’s fourth driver.

Jeff Gordon suffered through his first winless season since his rookie year as he and crew chief Steve Letarte struggled with set-ups for the new car. The last thing he wants to do is once again start hearing people ask him if he’s ready to retire yet. Look for Gordon to win before the series gets to Talladega in April.

Greg Biffle was on the cusp of winning all season long but kept running into awful luck. He picked the best time to break out, winning the first two Chase races and giving Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards a race to the end. This coming season is his chance to show he belongs among NASCAR’s elite and that Carl Edwards is not the only superstar at Roush.

Reed Sorenson made a not-so-graceful exit from Ganassi and landed in the No. 10 at Gillett Evernham for 2009. Last season he finished 30th or worse 19 times. He’ll only be 23 this year and was probably brought along too soon by Ganassi. But he’ll have to improve if he wants to stay on a team that doesn’t hesitate to change drivers.

David Gilliland’s 2008 season will be known for two wrecks -- the big pileup he and Michael McDowell triggered at Watkins Glen and the fall race at Texas where he was parked by NASCAR after wrecking Montoya. Other than a second place at Infineon, his results were forgettable. Gilliland needs to prove he can keep it under control.

Sam Hornish Jr. started the year with Kurt Busch’s points but couldn’t keep the No. 77 in the top 35 all year. He wrecked more than any other driver in 2008 and the year ended on a sour note when he failed to qualify at Talladega and Homestead and lost Rookie of the Year honors to Regan Smith. With a year’s worth of experience under his belt he’ll need to start posting some top 10s or start thinking about going back to open-wheel.




Doug Demmons is a writer and editor for the Birmingham News ~ he writes daily and weekly auto racing columns ranging from NASCAR to open wheel to Formula One, local tracks and more... you can read Doug's columns online at Blog of Tommorow


You can contact Doug Demmons at .... Birmingham News

You Can Read Other Articles By Doug Demmons


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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