July 18, 2005

By Carol Einarsson

A few weeks ago, I mentioned something about there being a handful of guys that I wouldn’t JEER, three of them being drivers. This piqued your curiosity and so many of you wondered who they were, so I invited you to guess the three guys. Here, then, is the result of those guesses.

Your Guesses:

Elliott Sadler:

If for no other reason he's the assistant's favorite.

He seems to be quite a nice guy.

Because he seems like such a good guy, but more importantly, because of your #1 assistant's love for him.

I have no idea why but I know you like him from your articles (his brother Hermie too). I think maybe because he's from Virginia.

Can't bad mouth the assistant's driver, M & M's, and I think ya just like him.

Ken Schrader:

A good guy and so down to earth, don't you wish more drivers were like that?

An all around good guy, clean racer, that promotes home town dirt tracks on his days off of Cup Racing, by ‘participating in them’ and being fan friendly.

Need I bring up that forever etched in my mind is the moment that his facial expressions said it all in regards to the death of Dale Earnhardt? One needn’t watch any more news, to know that we had lost him. Kenny’s face said it all. To the best of my knowledge, Kenny has never voiced a word to any other person than those close to him, of that day. If I ever get the opportunity to meet him. I’ll not say a word. I’ll just give him a hug….as I’ve wanted to do, every day since.

Quiet, humble, yet when he speaks, you can’t help but laugh. The man simply loves to race. Doesn't matter when, where, or how, he will race! He always finds the humor in something, and doesn't throw fits about it all. Simply put, he drives to win. If he doesn't, he goes to the next one! Oh and let us not forget all the goodies that are so tasty from his sponsor as well.

Another class act. I like Schrader because of the mischievous side he lets us see in The Big Show. Plus anyone who can play off of both Mikey and Spencer at the same time deserves an award.

He is a racer's racer. If it has wheels he will race it, not for money as much as the love of the sport.

He is so respected in the garage that even after M&M's left MB2 racing, they stayed with Schrader to sponsor the event at Pevely.

Kyle Petty:

His work creating the VJGC is so admirable it would make it very difficult to ever JEER Kyle, not that he's ever done anything major on the track to warrant criticism.

Although he does not get the finishes that I wish for him, he is such an incredible person for what he has been through and what he does. His charity work is unparalleled, and the family legacy will live on through the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

Stopping to help Bobby Labonte when his car was on fire is the reason for Kyle. But it could be all the charity work that he does. Bobby Labonte is simply a nice guy and a nice race car driver.

Who can truly have a mean thought about such a caring man who has suffered so much and yet turned all that into such a positive?

Because of what he's done with the Victory Junction Gang Camp and how he stopped for Bobby Labonte when his car was on fire at Chicago which shows what kind of person he really is.

My reasoning has little to do with the on-track racing aspect. I’m choosing him solely because of his ability to deal with tragedy and turn it into a blessing for others. I’ve read your column many times where your heart has been torn because of adversity Kyle has had to endure. His perseverance and reliance of his faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is an inspiration.

I don’t think I really need to say why. Even the most cynical of people could not dislike Kyle Petty. His actions and words speak volumes.

Quiet, well-spoken, heart of gold, another class act. I cried when Adam died, and like you, if I ever saw Kyle anywhere I would want to give him a hug.

A man that is obviously as intelligent and compassionate as Kyle should just never be JEERed.

Perseverance in the face of tragedy; a testimony to keeping alive the dream of a loved one to help children.

He is a true gentleman who realizes that there is so much more to life than racing. When he stopped for Bobby Labonte when his car caught on fire he showed why he is worthy of no JEERs.

Bobby Labonte:

A sea of tranquility and professionalism. Too bad we don't have 42 other drivers just like him.

Simply a nice guy and a nice race car driver.

Not that he would ever do anything to get JEERed for, but even if he did you couldn't because even though you don't talk about it, I know you still have the hots for him. (-This was that troublemaker Bill, of course, so comfortable with his manhood that he probably could admit to having the hots - in a manly way - for Bobby Labonte, too!)

Most likely the best overall good clean driver/champion that NASCAR will ever have. A proven champion that puts driver safety and well being, above NASCARS ever changing rules and does it all with grace.

Ron Hornaday Jr.

I only throw this one in because you threw that little message in about “in cup or truck racing.” I wasn't sure if it was a clue, or if you were trying to throw people off, but if it was a clue, he would definitely be my pick for trucks.

Mark Martin:

A rags to riches success story. A class act from day one. Longevity, dedication, determination, unflappable, humble, and the sympathy factor of finishing second in the points four times.

It's quite obvious of your love for him and he is a pretty nice guy.

Because he just doesn’t give anyone a reason to JEER him.

Mark’s an old-school racer but one who understands the give and take necessary to be successful. In the close to 20 years I’ve seen him drive I have rarely seen him put his car, or any other car, in a dangerous position. He’s quick to back off and let someone win the battle because he has the big picture of the final outcome of the race in mind. I believe you like him because he is gracious in both victory as well as defeat. And finally, he is humble and gives credit to others for his success.

Because he's classy and no one would ever have a reason to JEER him because he never does anything JEERable.

Never will we ever see a man with the class and sportsmanship that Mark has. He just wants to win, and dagnabit he deserves to. I think he is the only driver you constantly hear thanking the FANS, and the sponsors!

If any one person should have a Cup championship it's Mark. He's earned it! No brainer. Mark is a class act. Mark is one of my favorite drivers. I would say that you would never JEER him because he will never do or say anything that requires a JEER.

A class act, which should serve as a model for "some younger" drivers. He is an old style racer who appreciates the blessings God has given him and is still in awe of it all. That's why his farewell tour isn't about him, but about the fans, and why he will hold to the promise he made to his family to spend more time with them.

Michael Waltrip:

I almost left him off, whoa! Your love for him is quite evident and he always makes us laugh.

Simply a wonderful person. He goes out of his way for his fans. He doesn't go looking for trouble, yet it always seems to find him. Even after Junior wrecked him, he didn’t throw a fit. He didn’t throw towels, bottles, or punches, but he let his otherwise humorous demeanor be overridden with a blank look of what did I do to deserve this? You could almost feel his pain. Besides, Momma said "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"

Because he's precious!

Morgan Shepherd:

Because there is no way you could JEER a guy with a big ol' cross on his hood who races for Jesus.

Because he runs a Racing with Jesus car. He's comfortable with his faith and is not afraid to show it and talk about it.

He stood by his convictions, had little to work with, but week after week raced with Jesus.

Johnny Benson:

He's the epitome of a clean race driver, they've all got class, and he's humble about his achievements - couldn't ask for a better guy to represent the NASCAR image.

Because his mom reads your columns and suggested the truck C&J.

He's a really nice guy and he has a good TV show

Hermie Sadler & Kerry Earnhardt:

It's simply because I've been reading your columns for a long time and I just think that you like these guys ("underdogs" if you will), and want them to do well.

Ricky Craven:

Because of how took the time to get himself healed and then came back in great form ("Have you ever??")

Terry Labonte:

Because he just doesn’t give anyone a reason to JEER him. (Even when he shaved his mustache!)

I believe Terry is on the list because he is the consummate team player. Out of loyalty, he put up with inferior equipment from Hendrick because of all Rick did to revive his career after Terry left the 44 team.

Terry is another humble person who, while passionate about what he does, never let his ego get in the way.

Unlike the spats that drivers have had in the last few years that have lingered forever (Spencer vs. Busch; Harvick vs. Nemechek; or Waltrip vs. Green), Terry has not seemed to allow on-track altercations effect him (i.e. vs. Dale at Bristol). He’s always taken on-track incidents in stride and maintained his focus on things that he could control.

He has too much class to ever do anything worthy of a JEER.

Matt Kenseth:

Because it’s hard to JEER someone so humble as Matt. When he messes up – he says it plain and simple.

And (drum roll, please) ---

The three guys I won't JEER are Mark Martin, Kyle Petty, and Johnny Benson. Here's why:

Mark Martin:     Many of you recognized that he is simply "unJEERable". I can't think of any other driver in the modern era (okay, that would be MY modern era) that has earned the amount of peer respect as Mark Martin. There have been nice guys before, but they've always had at least one rival or some amount of fans that didn't like them. The closest Mark seems to have is a select number of fans that can't stand his car owner. Take a poll in the garage area and ask every crewman, "If your driver can't win the Cup, who would you most like to see win?" Ask every other driver, "If you can't win the Cup, who would you most want to see as Champion?" The answers will overwhelmingly be Mark Martin. I think back to when Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500, and every crewman came out to pit road to shake his hand, and we all thought we'd never see that kind of reception ever again. But more and more, it seems we will -- when Mark Martin wins that Championship.

Kyle Petty:     I received lots of reasons why Kyle would be on the list. They're all good. He's a man of honor, integrity, and strength. He's come through tremendous adversity wearing his heart on his sleeve, and uniting the entire racing community in his quest to fulfill the dream of his lost son. I sometimes wonder about this father's love for his son Adam, and how God loved his first son, Adam, and how both grieved at their loss. Okay, like that isn't reason enough, it still isn't the reason he's on my list. The one defining moment when I knew that I could never again JEER this man was when, in the middle of a race, he pulled over and stopped. Not because his car was damaged or because he was out of fuel -- he stopped because a brother was in danger, and Kyle was prepared to rescue him regardless of the cost to himself. Fire billowing, and worried fans, but like a racing Superhero, Kyle pulled over and stopped. In the middle of a race. Losing positions didn't matter. What did matter was a man in trouble, and Kyle in a position to help. His ability to teach us all by example continues to amaze me more each day.

and finally,

Johnny Benson:     I could talk all about all the reasons I like Johnny. He is even-tempered, and I’ve never seen him hot after a race or even close to looking like he wanted to punch a guy. I can’t remember anyone else, either, ever looking that mad at Johnny. He’s just cool, and we like a guy that is just a good clean racer. I like that he is a good role model in his self-control. But probably the single most reason that Johnny is on my list of three is simple -- you just can't JEER a guy when you know his mom is reading along!

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.