May 7, 2009
By Doug Demmons
Here are the five most likely drivers -- among those who either haven’t won yet or haven’t won in a while -- to win this year.
1. David Reutimann
Career Best Finish: 4th at Las Vegas this year
He jokingly called himself “The Franchise” earlier this year. When his crew replaced his name above his car’s window with his new nickname and it got out he was embarrased.
But it’s the truth. Reutimann is the franchise at Michael Waltrip Racing. He has two top 10s this year and consistently runs up front. He has one pole and has qualified in the top 10 in six of the 10 races this year. At Bristol and Phoenix he spent the entire race in the top 15. He hasn’t led many, however -- just 42. And 40 of those were at Texas.
But when you run up front week after week a win is bound to fall into your lap.
Most likely to break through at: Charlotte
2. Juan Pablo Montoya
Career Best Finish: 1st at Infineon in June 2007
Montoya started the 2008 season with the motto “Chase or Bust.” He did neither. But he has been on the cusp of the Chase all season. He is 14th in points, has three top 10 finishes and has run in the top 10 in every race this season.
He was on the pole at Talladega this year and finished second there in the fall. He’s definitely figured out restrictor plate racing.
Most likely to break through at: Daytona.
3. Sam Hornish Jr.
Career Best Finish: 6th at Richmond on Saturday
Hornish has definitely benefited from the new Dodge engine. He has two top 10s in the last three races -- both at short tracks -- and seems to have finally figured out stock car racing. He does needs to qualify better.
He’s 30th in points, but he should be able to finish the season in the top 20.
Most likely to break through at: Dover
4. Marcos Ambrose
Career Best Finish: 3rd at Watkins Glen
If someone had told you at the start of the season that by the time Darlington rolled around Marcos Ambrose would be right behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the standings you would have suggested he get a drug test.
Nonetheless, Ambrose is 19th, just 33 points behind Junior. He’s basically the third car at Michael Waltrip Racing but he’s No. 2 in performance. Most importantly -- he’s having the time of his life. He even walked through the media center at Atlanta passing out Little Debbie cakes for his sponsor before the race and actually looked like he enjoyed it.
He has run well this season at two of the least similar tracks -- Talladega and Bristol. He finished fourth at Dega and spent almost the entire race at Bristol in the top 15.
Most likely to break through at: Watkins Glen. Road courses are still his strength.
5. Brian Vickers
Career Best Finish: 1st at Talladega, October 2006
Vickers’ only win was just one in a string of controversial finishes at Talladega. Vickers made a drafting mistake at the end of the race and ended up taking out Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Junior wrecked him at Daytona this year but they both say there are no hard feelings.
He has three top 10s this season and two poles -- at Fontana and Richmond. He had a shot at winning at Atlanta but a four-tire stop when the caution came out with two laps to go moved him from second to sixth on the restart and he ended up fifth.
He has run up front at every race except Bristol and has led the last four races.
Most likely to break through at: Atlanta on Labor Day weekend
Doug Demmons is a writer and editor for the Birmingham News ~ he writes daily and weekly auto racing columns ranging from NASCAR to open wheel to Formula One, local tracks and more... you can read Doug's columns online at Blog of Tommorow
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.
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