NASCAR: Building the Perfect Driver With Parts of the Top Sprint Cup Drivers
Racin' with Russ—Imagine in some wild dimension, you were granted the ability to create the perfect NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Here’s a suggested guideline of who you might use to create this utilitarian Perfect Driver.
Keep in mind, the perfect driver would have to be very well-rounded and not feature only good qualities, but some colorful attributes as well.
Here’s a dozen ideas:
Jimmie Johnson—Mr. Calm
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Here’s a guy that just doesn’t get rattled.
Win, lose, spin out, get a lap down or get a lap ahead, it doesn’t matter. Chad will get on the radio and tell him, “Jimmie, it’s okay. We have a decent lead in the points, and we can fix the car. It doesn’t matter that the car is torn in half and your arm may be hanging off….it’s okay. We’ll get it back together.”
Tony Stewart – Grumpy, but Hard Driving.
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Tony has gone through hundreds of interviews with the press and will pull no punches on or off the track. Ask him a dumb question and he’ll give you that death look stare along with, “Now, that’s a stupid question…what do you think?” If he’s not happy about something, he’ll let you know with either his fist or front bumper.
Let's also give credit where credit is due for a tough, hard driving competitive driver that on most days can get the job done. Just don't ask stupid questions.
Trevor Bayne—Fresh Face
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One of the last people you would have expected to win this year’s Daytona 500 was Trevor Bayne. It was a part-time deal with a fresh-faced 20-year-old driver, and he made it happen.
He seems to have captivated race fans' hearts with a warm and fuzzy feeling towards him doing well and slaying some of the big boys.
You need these fresh talents to keep the rest of the field on their toes and the fans need an underdog to root for.
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Kyle Busch—The Bad Guy
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Every sport has their list of bad guys. Over the past few years, despite his winning ways, this is the guy people love to hate.
Busch has pushed and spun his way to numerous wins, with NASCAR stepping in on occasion with some kind of slap on the wrist. But most times, NASCAR has turned the other cheek, claiming the "boys have at it" mentality.
This guy would surely knock his momma out of the way to grab a higher finishing spot.
Kasey Kahne—Ladies Favorite
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Mention this driver's name to almost any female race fan, and they immediately gush with bedroom fantasies. His boyish good looks and on-track talent make this driver one to have on your list of all-around perfect combos. Not to mention, he's a sponsor's delight.
Dale Earnhardt Jr—Fan Favorite
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A list of perfect components to create our favorite race car driver wouldn’t be complete without fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Besides, if a fan is any kind of Dale Jr. fan, he’s a beer drinker. Just listen at any race for those guys yelling out with slurred speech, “Go Junior!” I guarantee there’s a 12-pack or two behind their comments.
Matt Kesnseth—Iceman
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He’s quiet. He’s fast. He’s often stealth-like. It’s The Iceman Matt Kenseth.
Yes, we used to call Terry Labonte The Iceman for his quiet demeanor in getting to the front.
Either one of these drivers will start and run most of the race without you even noticing they were even on the track. Then, the final 20 laps come up, and there they are among the top three fighting for the lead. And the fans and fellow drivers' normal comments are often, “Where did he come from?”
Good spokesman, easy on equipment—a welcome asset to any team.
Jeff Gordon: Tenacious
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Throughout Jeff Gordon’s nearly two decades of NASCAR competition, he has always managed to start from the front, or back, get in tangles, not have the best car and often rise to the occasion with great tenacity in getting the job done to claim 83 wins and four titles.
There’s more to come. It also doesn’t hurt to have enough good looks and be a great spokesman for the sport to round out the package. Two more wins to claim third all-time. That's alot of checkers.
Joey Logano: Wise Guy
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Joey is one of the new guys on the block with amazing talent and what turns out to be a wise guy turn of words. When his patience was tested in 2010 with drivers pushing him around on the track such as Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick, the young Conneticut driver came out with some beauties. As Jack Linkletter used to say, "Out of the mouths of babes".
The one that sticks in most peoples heads is the comment concerning Kevin’s wife Delana wearing the fire suit in the family. Funny stuff. You need a guy like this to round out the perfect driver combo with a fresh perspective.
Kevin Harvick: Closer
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Of late, nobody can come close to closing in on win better than Harvick. Big track or small, good car or bad, he manages to rise to the occasion, more than likely will rub on ya or more, but will more than likely close the deal for the win or come close. You’ll need a closer component to create the perfect driver.
Carl Edwards: Mr Buff
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If you’re putting together the all perfect driver combo, you would definitely want a guy that is in as great of shape as Carl Edwards. While Mark Martin is in great shape, eats right, etc, it helps to have someone like Carl to be younger, taller and just plain ripped to somewhat intimidate the rest of the field on or off the track.
Sponsors also like a driver that can speak well and Edwards has proven to be a good spokesman for many different kinds of products.
From an owner or crew chief standpoint, you want a driver that is commited to keeping himself fit to have those special endurance qualities after running 4 -500 miles on a hot afternoon and still pop out of the car fresh as a daisy and ready to perform backflips, much to the approval of the crowd.
Mark Martin—Mr. Experience
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Having the experience and wisdom this talented veteran posses is invaluable. At 50 plus years old, the younger drivers still look to the wily vet for advice on any track, large or small, round or road course.
Always the consummate professional, a lot of drivers can learn something about being a well-rounded, successful driver with a great, humble attitude.
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