Name That Song: Predicting NASCAR Drivers' Walk-Up Songs at Bristol
It's Bristol, Baby!
I had originally intended to write this article next week, but with four midterms, I cannot fit it in my schedule.
Anyone following NASCAR knows Bristol has a tradition of giving NASCAR drivers a choice of any song they want to be introduced to.
I have come up with some predictions for these songs.
David Reutimann
1 of 34
Song: How Do You Like Me Now? by Toby Keith
A couple of years ago, Reutimann was a virtual nobody. Starting out with Michael Waltrip Racing, Reutimann only qualified for about half of the races his rookie season. Many people had written him off, saying he would never make it.
Since then he has picked up two career wins, and it's only a matter of time before he becomes a threat for the championship.
Jamie McMurray
2 of 34
Song: Adrenaline by 12 Stones
Last year was a career year for Jamie Mac. With three victories, including the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, he matched his career total in wins last season.
When McMurray was good, he was on fire. When he was bad, he was ice cold.
Seems like he was running on adrenaline last season.
Brad Keselowski
3 of 34
Song: Bad Reputation by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
"Bad" Brad has built a reputation as being an overly aggressive driver, often causing trouble with other drivers. Keselowski has also openly admitted to not being bothered by whatever the other drivers say about him.
I guess he don't give a damn about his bad reputation.
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Kasey Kahne
4 of 34
Song: Girls, Girls, Girls by Motley Crue
Do I really need to say it? Alright...
Ever since Kahne has been in the Sprint Cup Series, he has been a media target for his looks. He had been in commercials with several women craving a moment alone with him.
Let's just say if NASCAR doesn't work out, he doesn't really have to do anything else to be satisfied.
Mark Martin
5 of 34
Song: I Don't Wanna Stop by Ozzy Osbourne
Like the Ozzman himself, Martin is having a hard time giving up what he loves doing. If he could do this the rest of his life, he would. And given his shape, he just might.
David Ragan
6 of 34
Song: Walkin' Back to Georgia by Jim Croce
Ragan was pegged as a rising star when he joined the Sprint Cup Series in 2007. At some times he looked like he could have very well been.
But since then Ragan seems to have fallen off the map. His time at Roush Racing is running out, and he must find success to keep his ride.
But if he doesn't, he will be walkin' back to Georgia.
Robby Gordon
7 of 34
Song: On the Road Again by Willie Nelson
What NASCAR driver loves road racing more than Robby Gordon. Robby knows that these days his only shot to be competitive in the Sprint Cup Series is on the road course tracks. Pretty soon, these will be the only races he attempts to run.
Marcos Ambrose
8 of 34
Song: Back In Black by AC/DC
Ambrose was a tough one to predict, but this came to me right after I thought about it.
Ambrose is from Australia, so is AC/DC. He's also back in his favorite brand of car, Ford.
It doesn't hurt that the car is black, too.
Denny Hamlin
9 of 34
Song: All I Do is Win by DJ Khaled
What? He said it first.....
Hamlin said this quote after Darlington last season. This statement is true about all he does is win.
Except the championship....
Casey Mears
10 of 34
Song: Believe by Staind
Casey Mears was thought of as an up-and-coming driver with talent. Coming from a family like the Mears family, talent was expected.
Mears has driven for owners with top equipment, such as Chip Ganassi, Rick Hendrick, and Richard Childress. He has also driven for teams with much less resources, such as Keyed-Up Motorsports and Tommy Baldwin Racing. Throw in the that three race stint for Red Bull and you've got a mess.
Now Mears drives for Germain Racing, hoping to restore his career.
All Mears wants is for someone to believe in him.
Tony Stewart
11 of 34
Song: Won't Back Down by Fuel
Since 1999, Tony Stewart has shown that he is not afraid to be confrontational with anyone. Stewart seems like he has clashed with everyone on the track. From Jeff Gordon to Kurt Busch to Juan Pablo Montoya, Stewart has proven that he won't back down from anyone.
Not even a track official...
Greg Biffle
12 of 34
Song: The Little Things by Good Charlotte
Greg Biffle is without a doubt more than capable of being a champion in the Sprint Cup Series. A number of problems have plagued him since his rookie year in 2003.
Biffle has proven that he can win at NASCAR's toughest tracks. He has proven that he has what it takes to dethrone Jimmie Johnson.
If Biffle can fix the little things, he would be a perennial championship contender every year.
Matt Kenseth
13 of 34
Song: Riot by Three Days Grace
Kenseth was another driver that I had a difficult time finding a song for. For his accomplishment in 2003, I chose this song.
Kenseth is the last true champion in my book. Kenseth is the last champion under the old points system. Because of his dominant point season, NASCAR opted to add the Chase for the Cup to add excitement to the championship.
Kenseth won the 2003 championship with only one victory. He was consistent all season. This caused NASCAR fans to start a riot.
Kyle Busch
14 of 34
Song: My Way by Limp Bizkit
Couldn't you just picture Kyle Busch with a backwards baseball hat, white t-shirt, jeans, a big jacket, and white tennis shoes singing a Limp Bizkit song?
For the longest time, Kyle Busch was the Fred Durst of NASCAR. He whined and complained about everything.
Now that he's married, things might be changing.
Joey Logano
15 of 34
Song: Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
I know Logano is turning 21 this year, but he still has that teenage angst in him.
We all saw evidence of that when he told Harvick he was "gonna die" at Pocono last year.
Trevor Bayne
16 of 34
Song: Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast by Airbourne
Little did anyone know what Trevor Bayne could accomplish barely 20 years old.
I know if I was doing what he does, my mother would be telling me I'm too young to be driving too fast too much.
Kurt Busch
17 of 34
Song: Headstrong by Trapt
I'm glad Kurt Busch has the confidence to take down Jimmie Johnson, cause no fans seem to have any confidence that it can happen.
No matter how many misfortunes Kurt Busch has to go through, he is always very confident he can be the next champion.
Jeff Gordon
18 of 34
Song: Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) by Garth Brooks
Jeff Gordon is almost 40 years old. That makes him one of the oldest drivers in the NASCAR garage. 40 years old used to be considered young for a NASCAR driver.
To have another driver break his active championship record must make him feel somewhat old.
He also has back problems like people 20 years older than him.
Paul Menard
19 of 34
Song: Daddy's Money by Ricochet
If you know anything about Menard, then no explanation is needed.
Kevin Harvick
20 of 34
Song: Last Man Standing by Pop Evil
Harvick was my preseason pick to dethrone Johnson. Although that may not happen, I believe Harvick would win in a fight against anyone in a firesuit.
Until DeLana puts hers on....
Jeff Burton
21 of 34
Song: Instant Karma by John Lennon
Burton has been known as a clean racer throughout his career. Burton has also been known to race other drivers the way they race him.
So if anyone spun him out, he was coming back to spin them out.
Besides, doesn't Burton look like a guy who listens to the Beatles?
Clint Bowyer
22 of 34
Song: Who's Cheatin' Who by Alan Jackson
Sorry! I couldn't resist!
Bowyer was accused of cheating at New Hampshire last fall. His car failed inspection, and he was docked 150 points, virtually killing his chance at winning the Chase.
Ryan Newman
23 of 34
Song: We Are One by 12 Stones
This song is for the military. Ryan drives the U.S. Army car. This seems to make sense.
Jeremy Mayfield
24 of 34
Song: I Fought the Law by The Clash
Mayfield hasn't raced in nearly two years because of his drug problems. He has repeatedly tried to prove he's innocent, but hasn't yet.
He fought the law, and the law won.
Juan Pablo Montoya
25 of 34
Song: Rabia by Nonpoint
Being a fan of Nonpoint, I knew they did a couple of their songs in Spanish. This made my choice for Montoya fairly simple.
Rabia means rage in Spanish, and Montoya definitely has a lot of that.
It helps that it's in his native tongue.
AJ Allmendinger
26 of 34
Song: Anthem for the Underdog by 12 Stones
I am a pretty big 12 Stones fan, in case you haven't figured that out yet.
Allmendinger has progressed nicely since 2007, when he was starting out in NASCAR. Today, he is truly an underdog who will get his chance soon.
I'm expecting Allmendinger to win one race this season.
Bobby Labonte
27 of 34
Song: As Good As I Once Was by Toby Keith
Bobby Labonte was once the NASCAR Winston Cup Champion. Bobby Labonte was once a threat to win on any track the Cup Series was going to. Bobby Labonte was once a contender for the championship.
It's safe to say that Labonte isn't as good as he once was.
Jimmie Johnson
28 of 34
Song: Turn the Page by Metallica
Johnson is a Metallica fan and so am I, so I'll give him that one.
As far as Johnson goes, do I need to say anything? This story seems too familiar.
Martin Truex Jr.
29 of 34
Song: Country Boy by Alan Jackson
Truex is your typical country boy. He likes to hunt and fish. Seems like the perfect fit.
Regan Smith
30 of 34
Song: Been Caught Stealing by Jane's Addiction
Most people remember Regan Smith because he had what would have been a win revoked. He passed below the yellow line at Talladega in 2008. His argument is that he was forced down there.
Smith won that race.
NASCAR said Smith was caught stealing a win from Tony Stewart.
I think NASCAR was caught stealing a win from Regan Smith.
Brian Vickers
31 of 34
Song: Overcome by Creed
Brian Vickers is, so far, the comeback story of the year. Vickers fought blood clots last year that sidelined him after 11 races.
A Brian Vickers win would be very popular right now.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
32 of 34
Song: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2
It has been a miserable two-and-a-half years for Earnhardt. Mired in the midst of a 96 race winless streak, Earnhardt has still managed to be competitive, for the most part.
But he still hasn't found that winning combination yet.
Carl Edwards
33 of 34
Song: Animal I Have Become by Three Days Grace
Carl Edwards has become dangerous, both for good and bad. On the good side, he has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with for the championship. On the bad side, he had an ugly feud with Brad Keselowski last year, with two heart-stopping accidents.
It's safe to say that Edwards has become an animal.
Michael McDowell
34 of 34
Song: It doesn't really matter what song it is, as long as it last around five seconds.
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