Juan Pablo Montoya: Surprise, Surprise, Surprise Who?

(Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Surprise, surprise, surprise , that’s all you hear from everyone in regards to Juan Pablo Montoya’s ability to drive a race car.
I really don’t get the surprise part, if you Google the phrase “Juan Pablo Montoya race car driver” you get about 4.5 millions results, that alone should tell us the guy  can drive a race car.
I know this is a stock car, but again , this isn’t rocket science or brain surgery, is just driving a race car, if you’ve  been one of the worlds best drivers in about 3 or 4  different series, why would this be any different?
Why would it surprise anyone that after a training period and with decent equipment Montoya would do well in NASCAR, after all  a stock car has 4 wheels and a steering device. Agree?
Please understand I’m not talking about the average fans  who probably don’t get into other types of racing, I’m talking about the television commentators  who should know a little history about the people their talking about.
Somehow they are all stunned, surprised, incredulous that this guy can drive NASCAR.
You never hear Jeff Gordon ,JJ or Mark Martin say they’re surprised about Montoya’s successes ?
They understand what this guy is all about, he is a great race car driver , not average, not good but well above the average driver you see week in and week out.
Having said that, I’m surprised that he has been able to take this Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies power race car, who by the way, also provides engines for the No. 07, 29 ,31 and 33, none of them in the chase, I find that a telling story about the  ability of  Juan Pablo to drive a race car.
Can Montoya win the chase? Well only if the Hendrick folks fall asleep or are really cheating, other than that, I think this party is over, JJ will get his fourth championship and well in his way to breaking the seven championship mark.
That will definitely not be a surprise to anyone.
The worst the No. 42  can  do in the 2009 standing is twelfth, and that my friends aint bad for a surprising driver, now isn’t it?

And in regards to the quote about Hendrick having this chase in the bag, well! I'm praying everyday I'm wrong!

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