If You Can't Say Something Nice...



By Carol Einarsson

September 18, 2004

I'm often asked who my favorite driver is, and time after time, I explain that I have many favorites, for many reasons, and most of those reasons are sentimental. Here, then, is my run-down of the top ten, and my best reasons for wanting each man to win.


Jeff Gordon - I want you to win because no matter what anyone says about you, you have more natural racing talent than we've probably ever seen in one guy. Not the kind of skill you learn growing up in the sport, or in your daddy's garage, but just natural talent. And we know how much you dream of that 8th championship, to finally be the undisputed champion. It's been a tough couple of years, certainly, both on and off the track, but this would be a nice kick off to another couple of years of focused domination.


Jimmie Johnson - I want you to win because week in and week out, you are a threat to win. Okay, there have been some engine issues, but by and large, you're there every week. You're a sentimental favorite, maybe only to a handful of fans that remember this, but because of the triumphant way you stood on your wrecked Busch car after surviving a slam into a wall made of foam. You have been, since then, our poster child for why foam is better than steel regardless of the mess.


Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - I want you to win because it's time to have an Earnhardt champion again. We've watched you grow up as the NASCAR-version of Opie Taylor. We've watched you mature. We've worried about you when you got in that nasty fiery wreck. Mostly, we know that even though you wonder if this championship with the new points will mean the same as all the championships your dad won, you'll still be even more thrilled than Daytona and Bristol put together, when you can hoist that big trophy over your head and be in the elite company with the guy we didn't call Senior.

Tony Stewart - I want you to win because I sometimes get really, REALLY mad at you, but then, despite my best efforts not to, you make me like you again. If you win this first championship under the new points, you'll save a lot of other guys from the torment of the naysayers that might say they only won because NASCAR restructured the points. To win under the old points AND the new points, you'd prove yourself the true champion.


Matt Kenseth - I want you to win because even though you could then snub your nose at the whole lot of folks who blame your dominance last year for the change in points, you wouldn't. We like the idea of you winning back-to-back championships, regardless of what NASCAR has done with the points. We like that even as you're in the heat of the battle, you still take time to encourage your mentor, Mark Martin. We think that's pretty cool, and we like it when a nice guy wins the championship.


Elliott Sadler - I want you to win because you're my assistant's favorite driver, and moms thrive on seeing their children bubbling over with happiness. Okay, we have to admit, also, that M&Ms are our favorite candy, too. And we like that no matter how the media ignores you, you are still smiling when they do come around. And we like that you like dogs. And that when you do win the Championship, a lot of folks will scratch their heads and think, "Wow.. we never realized he was a threat." We like that stealthness about you.


Kurt Busch - I want you to win because this is your last chance to win one before another Busch arrives on the scene. You may need a head start, and to have a little brother know that you're a champion might give him a new respect. If you win, you'll forever be able to remind him that you were a champion before he was. And maybe you'll use some big words in your champion speech in New York.



Mark Martin - I want you to win because when my son was just 18 months old, he was carrying around a diecast 6 car. You were his first favorite. You are the finest example of not giving up. In 1997, you had more points at the end than the previous year champion needed to win the cup, but it wasn't enough. In 1998, you did it again, and earned 250+ points more than the 1997 season champion, but you still didn't win the title. You've been so close so many times. I want you to win because you are a clean driver, and a nice guy, and I don't think we could find even one person in the garage area that doesn't like you.

Jeremy Mayfield - I want you to win because you almost didn't make the top 10. I can't wait for your car owner to get his first championship, because we know that's what he had in mind all those years ago when he first left a successful race team to become a team owner.




Ryan Newman - And finally, I want you to win because before the season started, a newspaper contacted me and asked for my pick for the season, and I picked you. We've always liked that you are an engineer. We like that last year when you got 11 poles and 8 wins and still didn't get the top spot at the banquet, you weren't ever sour. We like that you know how to adapt to changes, no matter how many of them NASCAR throws at you. We like that you're quiet but funny, and that being a champion won't change who you really are.

You can contact Carol 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. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.