Racing Washouts A-Z: The Biggest Wastes of Talent in NASCAR History

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We all know as fans that it takes an extraordinary amount of talent to be a Nascar driver, no matter what level it is. For every superstar there any a multitude of drivers who just can't harness there abilities. I know it is not easy to win a race, but there is a fine line between competitive and just riding around. 

Lengend:

DNQ = Did Not Qulifiy

AvFn = Average Finish

LLF = Lead Lap Finish

* Still Active

(Nascar stats only)

A: Loy Allen Jr.

Loy Allen Jr. had a 6 year career in the then Winston Cup Series, and his only claim to fame was winning the pole for the 1994 Daytona 500.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 48 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 3 Poles, 30.0 AvFn, 2 LLF, 29 DNQ

Nationwide: 4 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 32.0 AvFn, 1 LLF, 7 DNQ

B: Dave Blaney*

Dave Blaney came to Nascar having won a World of Outlaws championship and a USAC championship, but has not had any means of successi Nascar, his lone win in Nascar was in Nationwide in 2006.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 363 Starts, 3 Top Fives, 27 Top Tens, 2 Poles, 27.5 AvFn, 97 LLF, 16 DNQ

Nationwide: 121 Starts, 1 Win, 12 Top Fives, 31 Top Tens, 7 Poles, 19.9 AvFn, 54 LLF, 5 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 2 Starts, 2 Top Tens, 8.0 AvFn, 1 LLF

 

 

C: Rodney Combs

Rodney Combs was a 2 time ASA (American Speed Assocition) champion in '73 & '75, but his biggest accompleshment in Nascar was driving in the truck series for Petty Enterprises.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 55 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 28.1 AvFn, 9 DNQ

Nascar Nationwide:116 Starts, 14 Top Tens, 20.7 AvFn, 17 LLF, 3 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 8 Starts, 1 Top Five, 2 Top Tens, 14.2 AvFn, 2 LLF, 1 DNQ

D: Wally Dallenbach Jr.

Wally Dallenbach Jr. is today a pretty popular anouncer on TNT, once known as the King's protge; good runs for him have been few and far between.

Satistics:

Sprint Cup: 226 Stars, 6 Top Fives, 23 Top Tens, 24.8 AFn, 39 LLF, 20 DNQ

Nationwide: 16 Starts, 3 Top Tens, 24.1 AvFn, 4 LLF

Camping World Truck: 2 Starts, 1 Top Five, 1 Top Ten, 13.5 AvFn, 1 LLF

K&N Pro: 1 Start, 1 Top Five, 1 Top Ten, 1 Pole, 3.0 AvFn

 

E: Kerry Earnhardt

Kerry Earnhardt is the eldest son of the Intimadator, but could never live up to the family name.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 7 Starts, 32.6 AvFn, 1 LLF, 16 DNQ

Nationwide: 72 Starts, 3 Top Fives, 6 Top Tens, 24.8 AvFn, 17 LLF, 7 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 27 Starts, 1 Pole, 25.1 AvFn, 11 LLF

K&N Pro: 8 Starts, 2 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens, 10.2 AvFn, 6 LLF

F: Larry Foyt

Nobody embodies wasted talent more then Larry Foyt, maybe if his name wasen't Foyt he would have been successul.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 23 Starts, 33.4 AvFn,  2 LLF, 22 DNQ

Nationwide: 67 Starts, 2 Top Tens, 25.1 AvFn, 10 LLF, 2 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 3 Starts, 23.3 AvFn

 

G: David Gilliland*

Maybe more then anyone on this list, David Gilliland has the potential to be a superstar if he ever gets desent equipment. The highlight of his career is a Nationwide win in 2006 beating many cup stars and doing so in underfunded equipment making a true 'David slays Goalith' story.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 152 Starts, 3 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens, 2 Poles, 28.7 AvFn, 33 LLF, 4 DNQ

Nationwide: 53 Starts, 1 Win, 1 Top Five, 3 Top Tens, 30.2 AvFn, 9 LLF, 2 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 3 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 21.0 AvFn, 1 LLF, 1 DNQ

K&N Pro: 45 Starts, 3 Wins, 18 Top Fives, 23 Top Tens, 4 Poles, 12.5 AvFn, 21 LLF

 

 

H: Andy Houston

Andy Houston is another example of a driver that fails to live up to the family name. He was so-so in trucks, but never got used to stock cars.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 22 Starts, 32.6 AvFn, 3 LLF, 8 DNQ

Nationwide: 7 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 21.0 AvFn, 1 LLF

Camping World Truck: 121 Starts, 3 Wins, 27 Top Fives, 51 Top Tens, 4 Poles, 13.8 AvFn, 73 LLF, 3 DNQ

K&N Pro: 2 Starts,1 Win, 1 Top Five, 1 Top Ten, 9.0 AvFn, 1 LLF

I: Kenny Irwin Jr.

After a brilliant career in USAC Kenny Irwin Jr. semed destinined for greatness in Nascar. He recevied the covated #28 ride for Robert Yates, but was very inconsistant. Tragically Kenny Irwin Jr. died in 2000 while qulifiying for a race.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 87 Starts, 4 Top Fives, 12 Top Tens, 3 Poles, 24.3 AvFn, 20 LLF, 2 DNQ

Nationwide: 14 Starts, 2 Top Fives, 4 Top tens, 19.7 AvFn, 6 LLF, 14 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 32 Starts, 2 Wins, 8 Top Fives, 11 Top Tens, 1 Pole, 15.9 AvFn, 12 LLF

K&N Pro: 1 Start, 28.0 AvFn

 

J: Buckshot Jones

There is nothing good to say about Buckshot Jones driving ability, he had a memorable name though.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 56 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 31.4 AvFn, 5 LLF, 21 DNQ

Nationwide: 147 Starts, 2 Wins, 13 Top Fives, 33 Top Tens, 3 Poles, 20.5 AvFn, 45 LLF, 6 DNQ

K: Kyle Krisiloff

Kyle Krisiloff got a chance to drive for Hendrick Motorsports early in his career, but that is the high water mark for his career.

Statistics:

Nationwide: 44 Starts, 1 Top Five, 2 Top Tens, 28.7 AvFn, 10 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 12 Starts, 23.8 AvFn, 6 LLF

L: Kevin Lepage*

Kevin Lepage is one of those drivers that is solid, he does not tear up a lot of equipment, but on the flip side he does not run up front either.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 201 Starts, 2 Top Fives, 9 Top Tens, 28.3 AvFn, 39 LLF, 65 DNQ

Nationwide: 288 Starts, 2 Wins, 19 Top Fives, 51 Top Tens, 4 Poles, 23.9 AvFn, 69 LLF, 36 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 7 Start, 29.7 AvFn 1 LLF, 1 DNQ

NASCAR North: 140 Starts, 1 Win, 10 Top Five, 47 Top Tens, 13.9 AvFn, 31 LLF

M: Patty Moise

Patty Moise is married to fellow driver (and a pretty good one to) Elton Sawyer. I guess Elton kept all his secrets to himself, leaving Patty to show that being a washout shows no gender-biais.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 5 Starts, 32.2, 2 LLF

Nationwide: 133 Starts, 4 Top Tens, 25.3 AvFn, 8 LLF, 17 DNQ

N: Donnie Neuenberger*

Donnie Neuenberger is another solid driver who just never caught on in Nascar.

Statistics:

Nationwide: 36 Starts, 34.1 AvFn, 2 LLF, 7 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 21 Starts, 2 Top Tens, 25.9 AvFn, 1 LLF, 3 DNQ

K&N Pro: 4 Starts, 26.2 AvFn

O: Danny O'Quinn, Jr.*

Danny O'Quinn, Jr. won rookie of the year in Nationwide driving for Roush Racing. Despite being a field filler now, he still gets a lot of love from the fans.

Statistics:

Nationwide: 101 Starts, 1 Top Five, 5 Top Tens, 28.6 AvFn, 22 LLF, 9 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 2 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 13.5 AvFn, 2 LLF

P: Phil Parsons

Phil Parsons is the brother of 1973 Winston Cup Champion the late-great Benny Parsons. At the height of his carrer he scored in miled upset at Taladega. He has also set a record for not finishing a single race in a season.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 203 Starts, 1 Win, 10 Top Fives, 40 Top Tens, 20.2 AvFn, 24 LLF, 9 DNQ

Nationwide: 285 Starts, 2 Wins, 38 Top Fives, 96 Top Tens, 6 Poles, 17.7 AvFn, 88 LLF, 1 DNQ

R: Randy Renfrow

Randy Renfrow has won a staggering 237 late model races in his career. Randy quickley found out Nascar was not like late models.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 1 Start, 43.0 AvFn, 5 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 48 Starts, 1 Top Five, 6 Top Tens, 22.5 AvFn, 10 LLF, 6 DNQ

S: Greg Sacks

I am from Long Island, Greg Sacks is from Long Island, and that is my Greg Sacks Story.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 263 Stars, 1 Win, 3 Top Fives, 20 Top Tens, 2 Poles, 27.1 AvFn, 13 LLF, 35 DNQ

Nationwide: 33 Starts, 1 Win, 3 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens, 2 Poles,  24.8 AvFn, 11 LLF, 9 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 1 Start, 32.0 AvFn, 2 DNQ

K&N Pro Series East: 1 Start, 36.0 AvFn

Whelen Modified: 20 Starts, 3 Top Fives, 4 Top Tens, 2 Poles, 18.2 AvFn, 5 LLF, 1 DNQ

T: Dick Trickle

ESPN'S favorite driver. You might be wondering why Dick Trickle is on this list, a man who has won over 1,200 races in his career can have success in Nascar.......guess again!

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 303 Starts, 15 Top Fives, 36 Top Tens, 1 Pole, 24.2 AvFn, 33 LLF, 28 DNQ

Nationwide: 158 Starts, 2 Wins, 24 Top Fives, 42 Top Tens, 7 Poles, 19.6 AvFn, 56 LLF, 2 DNQ

U: D.K. Ulrich

D.K. Ulrich was a long time independant driver who can claim he once loaned his car to Richard Petty. However best known for being caught using nitrious oxide.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 273 Starts, 1 Top Five, 16 Top Tens, 20.6 AvFn, 2 DNQ

Grand National East: 14 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 16.8 AvFn

V: Jim Vandiver

One of Dale Jr. favorites, Jim Vandiver finished second at the very first Talladega race.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 84 Starts, 5 Top Fives, 24 Top Tens, 22.2 AvFn 1 DNQ

W: Brandon Whitt*

Brandon Whitt shows a lot of promise as a driver, but teams look for results not promise.

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 1 Start, 43.0 AvFn, 4 DNQ

Nationwide: 31 Starts, 29.1 AvFn

Camping World Truck: 58 Starts, 1 Win, 2 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens, 2 Poles, 21.0 AvFn, 21 LLF

K&N Pro Series West: 1 Start, 16.0 AvFn

Y: J.J. Yealey*

 J.J. Yeley showed he had a bright future with Joe Gibbs in the Busch (now Nationwide) series, but ever since his career has gone way off track. (Pun intended)

Statistics:

Sprint Cup: 115 Starts, 2 Top Fives, 7 Top Tens, 1 Pole, 27.5 Avfn, 37 LLF, 14 DNQ

Nationwide: 119 Starts, 13 Top Fives, 39 Top Tens, 3 Poles, 18.4 AvFn, 74 LLF, 3 DNQ

Camping World Truck: 7 Starts, 1 Top Ten, 18.9 AvFn, 3 LLF

Whelen Modified: 1 Start, 27.0 AvFn

Info

 

 

All of my information came from Racing-Refrence.info